Moratorium on Drilling

A moratorium on oil and gas drilling off the BC coast was established by the provincial government in 1959.  A federal moratorium on all offshore oil and gas activities followed in 1972.  

Today, almost half a century since the first moratorium, the BC government has promised to stimulate oil and gas development off the BC coast and is lobbying to have the federal moratorium lifted.

Why should we keep the moratorium?

The ecological risks of lifting the moratorium are too great. One oil spill like the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska would spell disaster for BC’s marine life. Exploration techniques like seismic testing have serious ecological consequences.

Increased oil and gas development also increases greenhouse gas emissions. Offshore oil and gas development will contribute to BC’s greenhouse gas emissions just when the BC government has legislated targets for province-wide carbon emission reductions. The oil and gas sector is currently responsible for 18 percent of BC’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Current environmental regulations are inadequate. Our provincial environmental regulations have been gutted. Federal legislation such as the Species at Risk Act is toothless. We lack a legal regime that can protect the natural marine environment.

Instead of developing BC’s offshore oil and gas, Sierra Club BC urges the provincial government to focus on investing in alternative energy sources that produce little or no greenhouse gas emissions.