MP
McKenzie. David
Modernizing
Canada’s Coast: Bill C-264
On March
11, I introduced a private member’s bill (Bill C-264), The Oil Tanker
Moratorium Repeal Act, to repeal the current loading ban (Bill C-48)
on British Columbia’s northern coast. As the federal government moves toward
establishing a new oil pipeline to the West Coast, it is essential that the
necessary infrastructure exists to actually export Canadian energy to emerging
markets in India, Japan, and throughout Asia.
A
Proven Safety Record
The
proposal to lift the moratorium is rooted in decades of safe maritime
transport. For nearly a century, tanker traffic has navigated the West Coast
without a major spill of Canadian crude. Currently, the Port of Vancouver
handles roughly 400 tankers annually, while over 200 Alaskan shipments transit
BC waters every year. These figures demonstrate that our safety standards are
world-class, comparable to the hundreds of tankers that safely navigate the St.
Lawrence River and Atlantic Canada daily.
Reducing
Risk Through Infrastructure
Modernizing
our port access actually improves maritime safety. By utilizing deep-water
ports in Prince Rupert or Kitimat, we can:
·
Ease
Congestion: Reduce
pressure on the heavily trafficked Port of Vancouver and its aging
infrastructure.
·
Direct
Access: Allow
ships to sail via the Dixon Entrance directly into the open ocean, avoiding the
complex coastal navigation sometimes associated with the Hecate Strait.
·
Modern
Technology:
Leverage double-hulled vessels, GPS navigation, and mandatory escort tugs to
maintain environmental integrity.
Standardizing
our regulations supports world-leading environmental safety while fostering
economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities through projects like the
Eagle Spirit Energy initiative. It is time to clear the legislative roadblocks
and realize Canada’s potential as a reliable global energy provider.
Please
watch for more information to come as this bill is scheduled to head to debate
later in May. Email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.
MP – Calgary Signal Hill David McKenzie proudly serves the following Communities: Aspen Estates, Aspen Woods, Bowness, Christie Park, Coach Hill, Cougar Ridge, Crestmont, Discovery Ridge, Glamorgan, Glenbrook, Glendale, Greenwood-Greenbriar, Medicine Hill, Patterson, Rosscarrock, Signal Hill, Springbank Hill, Spruce Cliff, Strathcona, Valley Ridge, Wentworth, West Springs, Westgate, Wildwood
