Oct 1, 2010, Village of Queen Charlotte

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2010

(WHISTER) Today at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities annual convention in Whistler delegates from B.C. municipalities resoundingly voted in opposition to the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and oil tanker traffic on B.C.‘s north coast.

“I am overwhelmed and very grateful to the delegates of the UBCM for standing up for coastal communities on an issue that has provincial and national significance,” said Leslie Johnson, a councillor with the Village of Queen Charlotte.

“Understanding of the issue is growing, and that is leading to stronger opposition across the province,” said Carol Kulesha, Mayor of the Village of Queen Charlotte.

Two resolutions were put forward by the Village of Queen Charlotte. The first urged the federal government to legislate a ban on bulk crude oil tanker traffic through Queen Charlotte Sound, Dixon Entrance and Hecate Strait. The second resolution opposed the transport of tar sands crude oil by pipeline through British Columbia. Both resolutions passed by a significant margin.

The proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline would carry oil from the Alberta tar sands to the B.C. coast at Kitimat. From there, Enbridge is proposing to ship the oil by tanker to international markets. If built, the proposal would bring 225 supertankers to B.C.‘s north coast annually.