Despite the climate emergency the three main federal parties aren’t clearly in favour of ending oil and gas activities in the Nova Scotia offshore by the end of 2022.
News release: The Offshore Alliance, a consortium of 18 fisheries and environmental groups concerned about the wellbeing of our fishery and tourism industries in the face of offshore oil and gas development off Nova Scotia, asked leading political parties contending for the eleven Nova Scotia seats in the federal election campaign three questions about their commitment to protect the offshore. The questions focus on extending the moratorium on oil and gas activities on Georges Bank, ending oil and gas subsidies and supports, and ending all offshore Nova Scotia oil and gas activities by the end of 2022.
Press release: The Offshore Alliance is calling on all federal candidates in this election to commit to formally ending offshore exploration and drilling and subsidies that support these activities. The Alliance has sent questions to all federal candidates and plans to make the responses public.
Media release: In response to calls by the Offshore Alliance to end offshore oil and gas expansion and subsidies, both the Nova Scotia NDP and Green Parties have now stated that they oppose the expansion and subsidies for offshore oil and gas.
media release: “This is a measure of the sincerity of a party’s pledge to address the climate emergency,” says Gretchen Fitzgerald, Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation. “It will be a challenge to reduce our emissions, but further offshore oil and gas development will make it impossible.”
Earlier this month Chuck Porter, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Energy and Mines, announced that the moratorium on oil and gas exploration and drilling on Georges Bank will be extended. We speak with Jordy Thomson of the EAC to find out more.
The Canada – Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board has granted BP Canada an exploratory license to drill for oil in Atlantic Canada’s largest protected marine area. We speak with Jordy Thomson of the EAC to understand what the hell is going on here.
“This regulation and rush to drill takes us completely in the opposite direction from the government’s stated commitments on climate change. Given the recent history of spills and accidents off Newfoundland, the risk of spills and even a blowout is simply too high to roll the dice for the over a hundred new wells on the books right now. Seismic blasting and noise from drilling threatens rich habitat for whales and other ocean life. The stakes were simply too high to let this regulation and the incomplete assessment upon which it relies to stand.
12 Nova Scotia municipalities (and counting) are calling for a moratorium on offshore exploration and drilling until an independent inquiry can define the risks. I went to a press conference to hear about their concerns. Clearly reassurances by the province that all is well aren’t cutting it anymore.
There are no specific and formal qualifications to become a wildlife observer keeping an eye out for whales, turtles and other sensitive species while a seismic survey is being conducted.