NDP Calling on Harper to Reverse Cutbacks Following Vancouver Oil Spill

Following a substantial oil spill in Vancouver’s English Bay, the New Democratic Party is calling on the Conservative government to reconsider their recent cutbacks in marine safety.

“This spill needs to be a wake-up call – Conservative cuts are threatening the BC coast,” said NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. “An NDP government will immediately reverse the Conservatives’ closure of the Kitsilano Coast Guard base and the Marine Communication and Traffic Services centre in Ucluelet; and will stop the closures planned for Vancouver and Comox.”

Some #pics of the oil sheen and nasty stuff out in the water today via @BenWest #oilspill #VanFuelSpill pic.twitter.com/wFUXu72thB

— Tanker Free BC (@TankerFreeBC) April 9, 2015

On Monday, NDP Fisheries and Oceans Deputy critic for New Westminster and Coquitlam, Fin Donnelly, will introduce the motion calling on Conservatives to immediately reverse cuts to marine safety, oil spill response, and environmental clean-up capacity off the British Columbia coast.

“The coastline is crucial to our economy, ecosystem and culture. We have a responsibility to the generations that follow us to preserve it,” said Donnelly. “Canadians can trust the NDP to fix the damage done by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.”

At least 30 birds oiled by #VancouverOilSpill in BC Canada: http://t.co/n0e5bJMFyq pic.twitter.com/KYkTNzW98n

— BirdRescue.org (@IntBirdRescue) April 16, 2015

The motion up for debate on Monday reads as follows:

“That, in the opinion of the House, the recent toxic bunker fuel spill in Vancouver Harbour represents an urgent reminder of the fragility of our coastal waters and, therefore, the government must reverse its cuts to marine safety, oil spill response, and environmental clean-up capacity in Vancouver and elsewhere on the coast of British Columbia by: (a) re-opening the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station; (b) re-opening the recently-closed Ucluelet Marine Communication and Traffic Service Centre; and (c) halting plans to close the Vancouver and Comox Marine Communication and Traffic Service Centres.”

On April 8th, a harbour vessel for the Port of Vancouver confirmed that there was an unrecoverable minimum oil sheen in the Bay and considered the status of the spill to be serious. As of April 9th, it was estimated that approximately 2,800 litres of oil was spilled in English Bay.

Working late into the night, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, Jody Thomas, said the spill was 80 per cent contained and recovered within 36 hours.

#vancouver fire boats deployed by VF&RS to assist with spill operations in English Bay. @VancouverPD and @CCG_GCC pic.twitter.com/R3AtU8W2cn

— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) April 9, 2015

According to the Canadian Coast Guard, the financial implications from the Marathassa spill is the responsibility of the vessel’s owner, and that the recent cuts to marine safety in the English Bay vicinity have had little impact on clean-up efforts and reaction time.

“I would like to respond to speculation in the media and confirm that the Kitsilano station never provided these types of environmental response operations, and its presence would not have change how we responded to this incident,” said Thomas. “Moving to the next phase of dealing with this incident and shifting our focus to the shore-based clean-up efforts, the Canadian Coast Guard remains committed to leading solid and concerted efforts with our partners to protect the safety of Canadians and our environment from the effects of the spill.”