Press Release
Tsleil-Waututh Nation is unconvinced that the Harper government’s new oil tanker safety plan would adequately protect the region from an oil spill if Kinder Morgan’s pipeline proposal is approved. The proposal would bring more than 400 oil tankers per year through Burrard Inlet and the Salish Sea.
“Ultimately, the best way to safeguard Canada’s seas and skies is to say to no to new pipelines,” said Carleen Thomas, elected councillor of Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
“It’s time for the Harper government to stop talking about pipelines to the West Coast like they are inevitable and start listening to what the people of B.C. are saying. British Columbians do not want new pipelines and increased tanker traffic on our coast.”
She said the Harper government has stripped the environmental assessment process through Bill C-38. “They’ve severely cut back the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada, they‘ve closed the emergency oil spill office in Vancouver, they’ve closed the Vancouver Coast Guard station, and they’ve been called out by Canada's Environment Commissioner. They’ve even gone to China to say that a pipeline is one of their top priorities. And now the Harper government expects us to believe that they are acting in the best interests of protecting B.C.’s coast?” continues Thomas.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation is opposed to Kinder Morgan’s proposal to build a new pipeline to bring crude oil/bitumen to foreign markets through Burrard Inlet and the Salish Sea. The proposal would see the transport of crude oil expanded from its present level of approximately 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day. The pipeline terminates in Tsleil-Waututh territory. The Nation has experienced the results of crude oil handling and refining on Burrard Inlet for a number of decades. The Nation is expecting government-to-government consultation on this project.
“We are joining with all people who are concerned about oil spills and global climate change resulting from increased tar sands production,” said Rueben George, Sacred Trust Initiative, Manager of Public Outreach, Tsleil-Waututh Nation. “We are standing up to protect the land and water for all Canadians and our future generations.”
