The Council of Canadians is warning about more oil spills on the West Coast should export pipelines like the Northern Gateway and Trans Mountain pipelines proceed after bunker fuel spilled from a cargo ship in English Bay this week.
The Vancouver Observer reports, “The City of Vancouver announced that the bunker fuel is ‘toxic’ and warned the public not to touch the oily contents spilled on the beach.” And CBC highlights, “The toxic bunker fuel that leaked from a ship into Vancouver’s English Bay has washed up on the city’s popular beach in Kitsilano. Vancouver police told CBC News that there are visible clumps of oil on the shore at Kits Beach.”
Vancouver-based Council of Canadians organizer Harjap Grewal says, “With increased oil and gas infrastructure and vessels at the shores of the lower mainland the probability of oil spills will only increase. The oil spill reminds us that we should not be asking if there will be a spill but rather when and how often.” He adds, ” A moratorium on new infrastructure and vessel traffic along with a phasing out of existing infrastructure is the best course of action for the health of the coast lines as well as the climate.”
For more about the Council of Canadians energy and climate justice campaign, please click here.
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