Skip to main content
Start of content
Start of content

431-00123 (Environment)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons

Petition calling upon the House of Commons to:

Establish a permanent ban on crude oil tankers on the west coast of Canada to protect BC's fisheries, tourism, coastal communities and natural ecosystems, forever.

Response by the Minister of Transport

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Marc Garneau

The Government of Canada has delivered on its promise to formalize an oil tanker moratorium on British Columbia’s north coast, one of the most pristine, biodiverse habitats in the world. The Oil Tanker Moratorium Act provides an unprecedented level of coastal protection around the waters of Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound and is the first of its kind in the world. It represents a precautionary approach that targets crude oil or persistent oil products that are likely to remain longest in the environment if spilled. 

This legislation complements important measures already in place, such as the voluntary Tanker Exclusion Zone.  Since 1985, loaded oil tankers servicing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System from Valdez, Alaska, to United States west coast ports must travel west of the zone to protect the shoreline if an oil tanker becomes disabled. These initiatives are important because northern BC does not have the same infrastructure or substantial response capability that already exists on the south coast of the province.

The Act requires a mandatory five-year review of the legislation that will enable the appropriate committee of Parliament to study the full application of the Act. This review will allow for new information, including evidence on technological and scientific developments, to be taken into consideration. It will also allow for consideration of the impacts of the Act on the environment, social and economic conditions and on the Indigenous peoples of Canada. It will provide the opportunity for all interested Indigenous communities, provinces and other stakeholders to express their views once the moratorium has been in effect for a reasonable period of time.

More broadly, the federal government continues to work with Indigenous groups and stakeholders across the country to advance measures to enhance marine safety, protect Canada’s natural environment, and support economic development for all.

Presented to the House of Commons
Paul Manly (Nanaimo—Ladysmith)
February 27, 2020 (Petition No. 431-00123)
Government response tabled
April 11, 2020
Photo - Paul Manly
Nanaimo—Ladysmith
Green Party Caucus
British Columbia

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.