The federal government has not listened to Canadians, says WWF-Canada

“We are deeply disappointed the federal government has not heard the people of B.C., and thousands of others across Canada, who agree oil pipelines and tankers present too great a risk to Canada’s Great Bear region,” says WWF President and CEO David Miller.

“Responsible development means determining where risks should never be taken. The Great Bear region is a global ecological treasure that should not be jeopardized.”

Tens of thousands of Canadians spoke out against the project in campaigns by WWF-Canada and B.C.’s Coastal First Nations, as well as 300 Canadian scientists who independently called on the Prime Minister to reject the Joint Review Panel report.

Miller notes that public opinion and science are agreed: oil pipeline and tankers fail the test. “The Canadian government has repeatedly stated that it would only approve the Northern Gateway oil pipeline and tankers if the project is proven to be safe for Canadians and safe for the environment. It is neither.”

WWF will continue its conservation work in the region but a major oil spill from Northern Gateway pipelines or tankers could destroy decades of effort in the region.

WWF’s submission to the Joint Review Panel for the project demonstrated that an oil spill at sea would devastate critical habitat for recovering populations of humpback whales along the Great Bear coast. A WWF-funded study conducted by the University of British Columbia revealed the cost to First Nations and coastal communities – concluding that in a worst case tanker spill, any economic gains from the project to the North Coast region would be wiped out by the cost of a spill.

For more information, please contact:
Riannon John
[email protected]
416-347-1894