The provincial government’s new and long-awaited oil spill preparedness bill will soon be debated in the legislature for the first time. The bill is an important step forward, promising new provisions aimed at reducing the tremendous gaps in B.C.’s ability to respond to spills. Although this is good, and much-needed in our province, the bill … Continue reading
Read more »Posts Tagged: spills and communities
A big win for stronger local spill preparedness
Today was a good day. Local government leaders from big cities, small towns and regional districts across BC voted unanimously in favour of strengthening community oil spill preparedness. In a giant meeting room at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, hundreds of our local elected representatives raised their hands and endorsed Resolution A4, calling … Continue reading
Read more »Ladysmith rallies on derelict vessels
When you visit Ladysmith Harbour, you’ll see a place of great beauty and activity – but you will also find a number of problem boats in various stages of decline. In one short stretch of beach there are four derelict vessels grounded and decaying, plus several more floating and at risk of becoming derelict. The … Continue reading
Read more »Oil spills update
It’s been a busy few weeks on the oil spill front. So busy, in fact, that I’ve put together a round-up of new developments related to oil spills, impacts and response on BC’s south coast. May 27th was the deadline for intervenors in the NEB’s Kinder Morgan review to submit evidence to the panel, and … Continue reading
Read more »Momentum builds for stronger community oil spill response
Great news! This week local government leaders from across the Lower Mainland unanimously voted in favour of better local oil spill response, and a stronger voice for communities in oil spill planning. Motion R13 – which GSA worked with the City of Vancouver to put forward – was passed at the annual conference of the Lower … Continue reading
Read more »The wake-up call we needed
“There’s been an oil spill in English Bay.” I woke up last Thursday morning to the words so many of us hoped we would never hear. My mind instantly ran to images of crews scrubbing rocks after the Exxon Valdez as I feared the worst. Then came temporary relief: the spill had been dubbed ‘minor’, … Continue reading
Read more »Strengthening community preparedness for oil spills
When the Exxon Valdez accident happened twenty-six years ago this week, Alaskans learned first-hand what a massive oil spill can do to a community. What if a similar tragedy happened in BC? We’ve heard the repeated warnings from federal and provincial assessments that we don’t have the resources to respond to a major oil spill, … Continue reading
Read more »Local election results: a win for the coast, climate and communities
Election night 2014 was a great moment for all those in BC who want to stop pipeline and tanker projects that threaten our coast and our climate. From big city mayors to small town councillors, communities up and down the coast elected local leaders who promised to work in office to stop the Enbridge … Continue reading
Read more »It’s local election time!
On November 15th, British Columbians will go to the polls to vote for local leaders to represent their communities. While local elections may not generate as much attention on the airwaves or around the water cooler as provincial and federal races, they are vitally important – and not only at the local level. Newly … Continue reading
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