Tanker Ban Remains In Place

An attempt to repeal restrictions on oil tanker traffic along British Columbia’s North Coast has been defeated.

A Conservative private member’s bill would have repealed the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which prohibits tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude oil from loading or unloading at ports in designated areas of northern B.C.

Conservative MPs were the only members to vote in favour of advancing the legislation to committee.

The vote comes as governments and industry consider additional routes for moving Western Canadian oil to overseas markets. Strathcona Resources has proposed transporting up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day by rail to Prince Rupert for export, a privately financed proposal that would require changes to the existing tanker restrictions.

The defeat of Bill C-264 leaves the North Coast moratorium unchanged and prevents the Conservative proposal from proceeding to further study by a parliamentary committee.