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Action Alert: Letter Writing Request--Add your voice to the support for Bil=
l C-15 to protect seabirds from oil pollution
Please submit your letters by March 21st 2005. Sample letter below with Sen=
ator addresses.
Canada's Federal Bill C-15 seeks to strengthen existing measures establishe=
d to protect Canada's marine environments by amending the Migratory Birds C=
onvention Act, 1994, and the Canadian Environment Protection Act, 1999. Yo=
ur support is needed to help ensure the swift passage of Bill C-15 through =
the Senate with no further amendments. By supporting this bill, you will j=
oin the chorus of support for this bill from national organizations includi=
ng the International Fund for Animal Welfare, World Wildlife Fund Canada, N=
ature Canada, Bird Studies Canada, and Sierra Club of Canada.
Background
An estimated 30 million seabirds share Canada's east coast waters with thou=
sands of ships each year. It is conservatively estimated that 300,000 seab=
irds are killed annually off the southeast coast of Newfoundland alone owin=
g to the illegal and deliberate dumping of oil from ships. According to da=
ta collected by the Canadian Wildlife Service between 1984 and 1999, 62 per=
cent of birds found on beaches were oiled. Laboratory analyses shows that=
over 90% of this oil comes from machinery spaces which can only enter the =
water through deliberate or negligent acts. In the cold waters of the Nor=
thwest Atlantic a drop of oil the size of a quarter is enough to kill a sea=
bird.
Bill C-15 clarifies the enforcement powers and provides the government with=
the ability to effectively enforce the Migratory Birds Convention Act and =
the Canadian Environment Protection Act in Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone=
(EEZ). As well, vessels over 5,000 dead weight tonnes found guilty of cont=
ravening the Migratory Birds Contravention Act will face a minimum fine of =
$100,000 for a summary conviction and $500,000 for an indictable offence. =
These greater enforcement powers and penalties will create an effective det=
errent to illegal dumping.
It is imperative that groups write letters to the Senate in support of Bill=
C-15 with no further amendments. Any amendment will force the bill back t=
o the House of Commons where it may die on the Order of Paper regardless of=
the sweeping support it has there.
Facts:
* In the cold waters of the Northwest Atlantic a drop of oil the size o=
f a quarter is enough to kill a seabird
* Every year 300,000 seabird die off the south eastern coast of Newfoun=
dland due to deliberate and illegal acts of bilge oil dumping. This is the=
same number of birds that died in the Exxon Valdez.
* Unscrupulous ship operators are making the entire shipping industry l=
ook bad -- C-15 is good for legitimate ship operators
* Irresponsible shipping practices kill seabirds
* Senate must swiftly pass Bill C-15 and include minimum fines to give =
the law strength
* Current Canadian fines for deliberate dumping are not a deterrent -- =
Fines need to hit the polluter in the "pocketbook"
* Canada needs to be able to convict deliberate dumpers
* Canada needs to show sovereignty over its Exclusive Economic Zone by =
punishing polluters within our waters
* If the government can't enforce its own laws, Canada will lose a nati=
onal treasure - one of the last great bird breeding grounds on earth.
Senate Sample Letter
Dear Senator [insert Senator's name here],
I was shocked to learn that 300,000 seabirds are dying every year off the c=
oast of Newfoundland because of illegal and deliberate bilge oil dumping. =
This is the same number of birds who died in the catastrophic Exxon Valdez =
spill. The waste oil dumped into our oceans is taking a serious toll on ou=
r beloved and fragile marine life. I urge you to support Bill C-15 and addr=
ess this issue on my behalf.
Ship crews passing through Canadian waters are aware of our history of limi=
ted resources dedicated to ocean surveillance and enforcement. The fines de=
alt to the small number of vessels caught deliberately dumping waste oil in=
Canadian waters are low, with an average fine of just $30,000. Although t=
he fines handed out by Canadian courts are increasing, they are still subst=
antially lower than the fines delivered in similar USA and UK cases, which =
have delivered fines of $509,000 US and =A3411,000, respectively.
Such low fines have created an atmosphere in which deliberate oil spills ar=
e encouraged. In order to act as a true economic deterrent, fines for this=
deplorable practice need to be increased to match those handed out by othe=
r countries bordering the Atlantic.
I am asking you to swiftly pass Bill C-15. This Bill will make polluters p=
ay for the damage they are creating and create a deterrent to stop future i=
llegal and deliberate oil dumping. This bill should be passed to include t=
he minimum fine provision and without any further amendments.
I want to see an end to the illegal and deliberate dumping of oil in Atlant=
ic Canada. A single bird dying as a result of a deliberate and illegal act=
of pollution is completely unacceptable.
I look forward to your timely response and immediate action.
Sincerely,
[insert your name and address]
cc: Kim Elmslie, Campaigner, International Fund for Animal Welfare,=20
kelmslie@ifaw.org.
Senate Committee for Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources
The toll-free Senate of Canada line: 1-800-267-7362
(Please note that no postage stamp is required for mail to Senators)
Members:
Banks, Tommy (Chair) - Liberal, Edmonton
The Honourable Senator Tony Banks
600 Victoria Building
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 992-1938
Fax: (613) 995-6691
E-MAIL: bankst@sen.parl.gc.ca
Cochrane, Ethel (Deputy Chair) -Conservative, Newfoundland and Labrador
The Honourable Senator Ethel Cochrane
148 EAST BLOCK
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613)-992-1561
Fax: (613) 995-6691
E-MAIL: <mailto:cochre@sen.parl.gc.cacochre@sen.parl.gc.ca
Adams, Willie - Liberal, Nunavut
The Honourable Senator Willie Adams
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 992-2753
Fax: (613) 995-6691
E-MAIL: <mailto:adamsw@sen.parl.gc.caadamsw@sen.parl.gc.ca
Angus, W. David Conservative, Alma, Qu=E9bec
The Honourable Senator W. David Angus
903 Victoria Building
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 947-3193
Fax: (613) 947-3195
E-MAIL: <mailto:anguswd@sen.parl.gc.caanguswd@sen.parl.gc.ca
Buchanan, John Conservative, Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Honourable Senator John Buchanan
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 943-1409
Fax: (613) 995-3521
E-MAIL: <mailto:buchaj@sen.parl.gc.cabuchaj@sen.parl.gc.ca
Christensen, Ione Liberal, Yukon
The Honourable Senator Ione Christensen
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 996-5937
Fax: (613) 996-5954
E-MAIL: <mailto:chrisi@sen.parl.gc.cachrisi@sen.parl.gc.ca
Gustafson, Leonard Conservative, Saskatchewan
The Honourable Senator Leonard Gustafson
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 947-2233
Fax: (613) 947-2235
E-MAIL: <mailto:gustale@sen.parl.gc.cagustale@sen.parl.gc.ca
Hubley, Elizabeth Liberal, PEI
The Honourable Senator Elizabeth Hubley
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 992-1177
Fax: (613) 992-1516
E-MAIL: <mailto:hublee@sen.parl.gc.cahublee@sen.parl.gc.ca
Kenny, Colin - Liberal, Rideau, Ontario
The Honourable Senator Colin Kenny
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 996-2877
Fax: (613) 996-3737
E-MAIL: <mailto:kennyco@sen.parl.gc.cakennyco@sen.parl.gc.ca
Lavigne, Raymond - Liberal, Montarville, Qu=E9bec
The Honourable Senator Raymond Lavigne
Senate of Canada
Room 305; East block
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 947-2547
Fax: (613) 947-2569
E-MAIL: <mailto:lavigr@sen.parl.gc.calavigr@sen.parl.gc.ca
Milne, Lorna Liberal, Peel County, Ontario
The Honourable Senator Lorna Milne
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 947-7695
Fax: (613) 947-9589
E-MAIL: <mailto:milnel@sen.parl.gc.camilnel@sen.parl.gc.ca
Spivak, Mira Independent, Manitoba
The Honourable Senator Mira Spivak
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A4
Phone: (613) 995-1488
Fax: (613) 992-2912
E-MAIL: <mailto:spivam@sen.parl.gc.caspivam@sen.parl.gc.ca
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