Americas News
Canada Announces $1.1 Billion Spill Response Plan
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday announced a new CAN$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) ocean protection plan that will see the implementation of stricter rules for businesses responsible for pollution, increased coast guard capacity, new rescue stations, and indigenous community response teams, Canadian media reports.
The announcement is said to come in response to a recent bunker spill off British Columbia's coast near Bella Bella, which was cause when a tug boat ran aground and sunk, spilling an reported 110,000 litres of diesel and other petroleum products.
"The ongoing incident at Bella Bella is unacceptable," said Trudeau of the spill, adding: "it's time for a change."
Under the new plan, the government says it will provide funding over a five year period for the development a marine safety system, restoring marine ecosystems, and research on oil spill cleanup methods.
While many welcomed news of the new plan, some voiced concern that the move is a sign that the government is actually preparing to approve a Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline, which will increase tanker traffic on the west coast as it carries almost 900,000 barrels of of diluted bitumen each day from the Alberta oilsands to Vancouver for shipment overseas.
"We're worried that what they're doing here is setting the stage for an approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, which is going to put the very habitat at risk that they're putting money into restoring," said Aaron Hill, executive director of Watershed Watch Salmon Society.
The federal government is reported to have until December 19 make a decision on the pipeline.
In October, Ship & Bunker reported that U.S.-based Kirby Offshore Marine (Kirby), which is responsible for the operation of the tug involved in the Bella Bella spill, paid $250,000 to the Heiltsuk Nation to help with clean up operations.
