NDP moves to protect BC Coast from oil spills

In the wake of the recent toxic fuel spill off the coast of Vancouver, the NDP is reiterating its call for the Conservatives to immediately reverse reckless cuts made to marine safety and will bring the issue to Parliament for debate in its next opposition day motion.

“This spill needs to be a wake-up call – Conservative cuts are threatening the BC coast,” said NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. “An NDP government will immediately reverse the Conservatives’ closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard base and the Marine Communication and Traffic Services centre in Ucluelet; and will stop the closures planned for Vancouver and Comox.”

On Monday, NDP Fisheries and Oceans deputy critic Fin Donnelly (New Westminster – Coquitlam) will introduce the motion calling on the Conservatives to reverse cuts to marine safety, oil spill response, and environmental clean-up capacity off the British Columbia coast.

“The coastline is crucial to our economy, ecosystem and culture. We have a responsibility to the generations that follow us to preserve it,” said Donnelly. “Canadians can trust the NDP to fix the damage done by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.”

The motion reads as follows:

“That, in the opinion of the House, the recent toxic bunker fuel spill in Vancouver Harbour represents an urgent reminder of the fragility of our coastal waters and, therefore, the government must reverse its cuts to marine safety, oil spill response, and environmental clean-up capacity in Vancouver and elsewhere on the coast of British Columbia by: (a) re-opening the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station; (b) re-opening the recently-closed Ucluelet Marine Communication and Traffic Service Centre; and (c) halting plans to close the Vancouver and Comox Marine Communication and Traffic Service Centres.”