431-00273 (Environment)

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.

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.