WHAT WE ARE DEFENDING
We Aren't Just 'Protecting Nature.' We're Defending a Working Coast.
We aren't just protecting 'nature'—we are defending a working coast that has supported families for generations.
Protecting Coastal Livelihoods
BC's marine economy provides 179,000 jobs.
Defending Local Economy
Our ocean industries—fishing, tourism, and marine transport—generate $11 billion in economic activity and contribute $5 billion to GDP every year.
Defending Our Future
We built these communities on clean water and steady stocks. One spill ends a century of hard work in a single afternoon.
Defending Your Wallet
Canada is polluter-pays in principle, but the shipowner's direct liability is capped at $162M. Compensation then layers through the IOPC Funds (totaling $1.37B) and Canada's industry-funded Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund. The shipowner's cap is low relative to spills like Exxon Valdez ($2.5B cleanup). The SOPF's current balance ($427M) could create cash-flow gaps even if industry ultimately repays. This could leave taxpayers holdong the bag.
THE TRUTH ABOUT RAW BITUMEN
The tanker ban is our shield. It keeps their mess away and keeps our workers on the water.
Sources:
northcoastoilcleanup.info
Canada's Oil Spill Liability System: The Risk to Taxpayers
Claims by politicians and industry that Canadian taxpayers need not worry about being on the hook for the costs of a major oil spill in coastal waters are misleading. Below is an explanation of how the marine oil spill liability system does and does not work in Canada. Much is uncertain. While C
CBC
Why the disastrous 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill looms large over northern pipeline debate | CBC News
The Exxon Valdez disaster happened more than 36 years ago off Alaska's coast, but the catastrophic oil spill still looms over plans for a pipeline from Alberta to the northern British Columbia coast.