Dear Prime Minister Harper,
 
I am writing to ask you to place a permanent ban on oil tanker traffic on the coast of British Columbia.  

The current planned expansion of oil production in the tar sands of Alberta has resulted in plans to build numerous pipelines across northern British Columbia. Oil from the tar sands would be sent to port terminals in Prince Rupert and Kitimat for transport by tanker to the United States and Asia. If these mega-project proposals for pipelines and marine terminals are permitted to proceed, over 300 tankers would travel through B.C. waters every year.

Living Oceans Society recently released an oil spill model that illustrates how an oil spill could affect the marine ecosystem and coastal communities. This oil spill model clearly demonstrates that Canada and the Government of B.C. must strengthen and enforce the moratorium on oil tankers and offshore oil and gas in order to maintain the wealth of marine resources on B.C.’s coast.

B.C. marine waters are ecologically important. From the whales that migrate along the coast to the rockfish that dwell in the kelp forests, the marine ecosystem of B.C. is rich and diverse. As you are probably aware, the ocean produces approximately 50 percent of the planet’s oxygen. Keeping this ecosystem healthy is critical in our efforts to combat climate change.

The B.C. coastal economy relies on a clean and healthy ocean. Tourism, commercial fishing and recreational fishing are the foundation of many communities. Allowing oil tankers to ply these waters would put at risk the livelihoods of the people who work and live on this coast.

For more than 30 years, eight successive Canadian Prime Ministers have respected the moratorium on oil tanker transport through Canadian waters on the Pacific coast. I urge you to build on the work of past leaders and make the ban on tanker traffic permanent.

I look forward to your reply.