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URGENT***URGENT***URGENT: One last push for a secure moratorium for
Georges Bank, one with teeth that will hold to 2012. Please distribute
widely, and write your letters TODAY!
Many, many thanks!
14 Dec., 1999
*** GEORGES BANK MORATORIUM-- URGENT ACTION ALERT***
WE EXPECT, WE HOPE FOR A STATEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL AND NOVA SCOTIA
GOVERNMENTS THIS WEEK. IF NOT, THEIR SILENCE IS BEGINNING TO BE AN INSULT.
THE MORATORIUM EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31.
We are worried about the details, the fine print. We don't want the
politicians meeting their commitment to extend the moratorium in word, but
not in practice, with a 'hollow' moratorium, one with loopholes or which
permits review after only a very few years.
Background: In June, 1999, a review panel appointed jointly by the Federal
Government and the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia delivered
their report recommending extension of the moratorium on oil and gas
activity on Georges Bank. They did not specify a length of time of the
extension, believing that to
be a political decision. (A year earlier, President Clinton had extended
the moratorium on the U.S. side of Georges Bank until 2012.)
It is now up to the federal and Nova Scotia provincial governments to take
concrete steps to extend the moratorium effectively. This is where we need
your help: To let your views be known to the federal and Nova Scotia
provincial Ministers of Natural Resources; Fisheries and Oceans;
Environment; Economic Development and Petroleum Directorate; the Prime
Minister; and the Premier of Nova Scotia, whose contact information is
given below, most especially to the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of
Natural Resources, the Federal Minister responsible for the moratorium;
The Honourable Gordon Balser, N.S. Minister of Economic Development and for
the Petroleum Directorate, and the Hounourable Ernie Fage, N.S. Minister
responsible for the moratorium.
They must extend the moratorium NOW. The moratorium expires on Dec. 30, 1999!
We would like to see the Federal and Provincial ministers take the
following steps:
1. Immediately extend the moratorium until 2012. The GeorgesBank
legislation
(Federal and Provincial) contains a provision allowing the governments to
extend the moratorium through a non-legislative process. (However, any
other changes, principally, exactly how the review process for 2012 will
unfold, and must be required and defined in new legislation.)
2. The provincial and federal governments are unlikely to have new
legislation in place by the end of the year, however, they must issue a
written statement which clearly describes what will be in the new
legislation, in particular, with respect to the review process.
***** We, along with Ecology Action Centre of Nova Scotia, support the
following position, advocated by NORIGS 2000, on how the next review
process, not to occuruntil 2012, is to be undertaken:
POSITION WITH RESPECT TO EXTENSION OF THE GEORGES BANK DRILLING MORATORIUM
After careful review of the 1999 Georges Bank Review Panel Report, the
NORIGS coalition has adopted the following position with respect to the
moratorium:
1. The moratorium be extended at least to December 31, 2012 with a
further review process to be initiated no more than two years before the
end of the extension.
2. The review process consist of two phases with initiation of the
second phase being dependent upon the results of the first phase review.
3. The first phase review be conducted by the Nova Scotia and federal
ministers responsible for fisheries, petroleum and the environment. This
review phase would not involve a formal public process. The Ministers would
determine if there have been any significant changes, since the completion
of the 1999 Georges Bank Review Panel Report, which might alter the
conclusions of that Report. If the Ministers determine that there have not
been such significant changes, the moratorium would be extended for a
further 10 year period.
4. If the Ministers (identified in 3 above) determine that there have
been such significant changes, they would initiate a second phase review
which would involve a formal public process similar but broader in scope
(including development as well as exploration) to that used to review the
current moratorium. The basis for that review would be the 1999 Georges
Bank Review Panel Report.
5. If the moratorium is extended based on a first phase review, it may
be extended for further minimum 10-year periods based on further first
phase reviews.
-------------------------------
We encourage you to join in support of this position and to encourage the
governments, both federal and provincial, to act to extend the moratorium.
While the Georges Bank Review Panel's record is clear in recommending
extension of the moratorium, politicians need reminding to finish the job
and extend the moratorium effectively, NOW.
What we are worried about right now is that the oil and gas companies,
particularly CAPP (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers) and OTANS
(Offshore Technology Association of Nova Scotia) have been successful in
convincing the governments to weaken any legislation or government's
committment to a moratorium. We can envision a scenario where the
governments extend the moratorium, perhaps to 2012, but insert clauses or
"openers" in the legislation for early review of the moratorium. This
would be clearly unacceptable. We don't want a moratorium which, on closer
inspection, is no moratorium at all.
What follows is a sample letter which you may use or adapt:
------------------------------------------------
To the Minister:
We call upon the federal and provincial governments to make a formal
written committment before Dec. 31, 1999, to extend the moratorium on oil
and gas activities on Georges Bank until 2012, matching the U.S.
moratorium. We ask specifically that your governments introduce strong
legislation early in the New Year, legislation that will not compromise the
clear recommendations favouring a strong moratorium made by the Georges
bank Review Panel.
The Panel indicated that protection of this "area of exceptional ecological
value" is the "highest priority". The Panel noted that in addition to the
ecological andbio-diversity importance of the area, Georges Bank fishery is
of "very great economic, social, and cultural significance to southwest
Nova Scotia". The report concluded that oil and gas development and
production could have significant impacts on Georges, and that "it would be
inappropriat to permit the associated risks". Of the 130 presentation to
the Review panel, 111 favored extension of the moratorium.
The Panel summed up the issue in a most significant way: "arguments that
point to the great value of Georges Bank, ecologically and as a fishery,
weighed against a lack of public need for and limited benefits from
petroleum exploration are persuasive."
We are deeply worried about reports that the oil and gas industry has been
lobbying the federal and provincial governments to weaken the wording of
any new legislation. The governments' position and any legislation should
not be compromised by insertion of clauses which would allow for oil and
gas activities in the moratorium area before 2012. A hollow moratorium is
no moratorium.
In conclusion, we urge you to respect the panel's recommendation, recognize
the U.S. moratorium, and the wishes of the majority of Nova Scotians, as
expressed clearly in the Panel Hearings, an put in place the strongest
possible moratorium on oil and gas activity on Georges bank until 2012.
Sincerely,
--------------------------------------------------------
CANADIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
The Honourable Ralph Goodale ***(note: he is Federal Minister responsible
for moratorium)
Minister of Natural Resources, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E4
Fax: 613-996-4516
The Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E4
Fax: 613-941-6900
[Ed: Send a free fax via email ... just email:
<remote-printer.Jean_Chretien@16139416900.iddd.tpc.int>
For Mr. Dhaliwal, just substitute his name and # using above format.
Works for many area codes]
The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E4
Fax: 613-990-7292
Email: AndersonD@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
The Honourable David Anderson
Minister for the Environment
Le Terrace Chaudiere
10 Wellington, North Tower, 28th Floor
Hull, Quebec, Canada K1A 0H3
Fax: 819-953-3457
PROVINCE of NOVA SCOTIA CONTACTS
The Honourable Gordon Balser
Minister of Economic Development and for the Petroleum Directorate
7th Floor, World Trade and Convention Centre, 1800 Argyle St.
P.O. Box 519
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2R7
fax: (902)424-0514
The Honourable Ernie Fage ***(note: he is Provincial Minister responsible
for moratorium)
Minister of Natural Resources
2nd Floor, Founders Square, 1701 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 698
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2T9
Fax: 902-424-7735
The Honourable John Hamm
Premier of Nova Scotia
7th Floor, One Government Place, 1700 Granville Street
P.O. Box 726
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2T3
Fax: 902-424-7648
The Honourable Ernie Fage
Minister of Fisheries
7th Floor, Bank of Montreal Building, 5151 George Street
P.O. Box 2223
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 3C4
Fax: 902-424-4671
The Honourable Ron Russell
Minister for the Environment
5th Floor, Terminal Building, 5151 Terminal Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2T8
Fax: 902-424-0644
-------------------------------------------
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of Georges Bank,
Helen Lofgren
Georges Bank Issue Chair
Conservation Committee,
Eastern Chapter, Sierra Club of Canada
tel: (902) 477-4022
e-mail: <as112@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sierra Club Northeast Regional Conservation Committee (NERCC)
Sierra Club Atlantic Coast EcoRegion Task-Force (ACE T-F)
Sierra Club of Canada - Eastern chapter
237 -517 College St., Toronto, Ontario M4G 4A2
tel: (416) 960-9606
fax: (416) 960-0020
------------------------------------
***************************************
Sierra Club of Canada, Eastern Canada Chapter
517 College St. Ste.237,
Toronto, ON
M6G 4A2
Ph. (416)960-9606 Fax(416)960-0020
Membership Questions: sccanada@web.net
Visit Our Web Site: www.sierraclub.ca/eastern
***************************************
MISSION STATEMENT OF SIERRA CLUB
To explore, enjoy & protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and
promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to
educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the
natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out
these objectives.
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The preceding message was posted on the Sustainable Maritimes
mailing list (sust-mar). http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/lists/sust-mar
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