No Oil Port

We just can't have an Exxon Valdez oil spill here in Vancouver's harbour. We have to stop the crude oil tankers. A major oil spill would ruin our world-class environment and devastate our economy. We are the world's most livable city for good reason -- our spectacular natural environment. What other city has beaches, seawall, mountain views and parks like ours? It's vital that we protect our number one asset. One big oil spill would ruin it all. Did you know that up to two crude oil tankers a week leave Vancouver's harbour with plans to increase tanker traffic up to five-fold? These gigantic tankers with the capacity to carry from 500,000 to 700,000 barrels load up with tar sands crude oil at the Burnaby Westridge Terminal. The full tankers travel through the shallow, turbulent Second Narrows -- a risky passage with only metres of clearance from the ocean floor. They pass by Stanley Park and under the Lions Gate Bridge on their way to California and China. Some people say that the double hulls will protect us but several recent big oil tanker spills have involved double-hulled tankers colliding with other ships or objects. The risk is real! We have a busy port, and a 30 second navigation error could result in a catastrophic accident. It's scary to imagine what this will do to our waters, beaches, sea-wall, and salmon. There are far greater economic benefits and jobs at risk in our billion dollar cruise ship, conventions, fishing and tourism industries. The economic returns and jobs for Vancouver as a crude oil tanker port are very small by comparison. Why risk so much for so little in return? Why risk our quality of life. As the Green MP for Vancouver Centre, I will work to phase out the oil tanker shipments from Vancouver Harbour. I will work to secure the moratorium on oil tankers on British Columbia's North Coast and extend it to include the South Coast. I will work to find a domestic market for Canadian crude oil that provides greater energy security within Canada and doesn't put Vancouver's economy and environment at risk. Everything we love about Vancouver would be ruined by a major oil spill. You've got the power. Vote Carr.