Back
Street Theatre protests offshore oil
Victoria Times Colonist, November 17, 2004
By Cindy Harnett
Oil and gas exploration off B.C.'s coast is increasingly
unlikely, said Victoria MP David Anderson. He calls the advocates of
lifting a 32-year moratorium on drilling "irresponsible".
"I think they are further away from lifting the moratorium than
ever," said Anderson, in an interview from Ottawa Tuesday. "We are
winning this battle."
According to Jack Ebbels, a B.C. deputy minister who heads the
province's offshore oil and gas team, ocean-bottom reserves off B.C.'s
coast have an estimated net value of $110 billion, based on today's
energy prices.
[Picture] Caption: Kevin Pegg owner of Energy Alternatives, speaks
Tuesday at a UVic rally staged to protest potential offshore oil and gas
exploration off the B.C. coast. Ray Smith/Times Colonist
Premier Gordon Campbell at a recent Liberal convention in
Whistler said the government plans to map out protected marine areas
while working to move ahead in offshore oil and gas development.
"They were promising all sorts of things. It's not going to
happen," said Anderson.
Fearing decision day is near, the Western Canada Wilderness
Committee organized a protest at the University of Victoria Tuesday.
The protest was part of a nationwide WCWC campaign to pressure
the federal Liberal government to enact a permanent legislated ban on
coastal oil and gas development in B.C.
"This is not just a B.C. issue, it's a national issue. There's
only one Pacific Coast in Canada," said Ken Wu, WCWC campaign director.
Anderson said he supports their efforts. "I'm all in favour of
them demonstrating against the careless proposals to lift the moratorium
before we know what the risks are."
Both environmentalists and the B.C. government are awaiting the
federal government's decision on reports from a public review conducted
by a three-member federal panel headed by former National Energy Board
head Roland Priddle, and from an aboriginal engagement process. The
reports are expected soon.
Natural Resources Canada Minister John Efford is then expected
to take the issue to federal cabinet for a decision.
The opinion-based Priddle report, said Anderson, was totally
negative - 69 per cent of oral submissions and 59 per cent of written
submissions wanted the moratorium maintained.
Cabinet will also consider the results of a Royal Society
independent scientific review. That report, released in February, said
although scientific gaps exist, the moratorium could be lifted before
they are filled if an adequate regulatory regime was put in place.
"The scientific crowd are laughing at them rather hard on that
one," said Anderson, noting it's impossible to put this cart before the
horse. "From what we know now (lifting the moratorium) looks less likely
than it did a few months ago."
Despite being bumped from his environmental post shortly after
the federal election in June, Anderson packs as much green clout as ever
it seems - still raking in recognition.
Anderson was honoured in Ottawa Monday with the Sierra Club of
Canada's John Fraser award "for environmental achievement for heroic
efforts to promote Kyoto Protocol on climate change." Former prime
minister Jean Chrétien is the only other recipient.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Paul Martin and
Environment Minister Stéphane Dion.
Last month, Anderson also picked up a West Coast Environmental
Law award for lifelong contributions to the environmental protection and
sustainability of B.C. through the law. And in September, he was awarded
the Wildlife Habitat of Canada Award.
Anderson's tough stand on environmental issues and outspokenness
as a backbench MP - no longer bound by cabinet confidence - has seen him
question his own government on several matters ranging from finance to
the way the election was run.
He jokingly admits he now sits in the "penalty box" in the House
of Commons.
His headline-grabbing criticisms of the government and the fact
that his three-bedroom family home - a 1959 Uplands rancher with a
sprawling backyard - is on the market has reignited rumours the feisty
former minister might up and quit or be in line for a patronage
appointment.
"Heavens no. No, no, no. I have no intention of doing either
one," he said.
"Thousands of people sell houses without quitting their jobs."
Assistant Lynne Henderson said Anderson hasn't been offered
anything and doubts the prime minister would want to cause a byelection.
The Andersons also own a home in Ottawa, where their daughter,
16, is in Grade 11. Their son, 20, is living in Costa Rica. Anderson
said he plans to maintain a residence in Victoria.
When he lost his Environment post, his paycheque also took a
beating - about $70,000 less. "If you have a cut in pay you obviously
look at things," he said.
If the Liberal minority government folds in under two years
Anderson maintains he'll run for office again.
|
|
