Oh, Canada! We Hope You Rescue US!

Ottawa considers anti-tanker legislation

Quentin Casey
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday September 10th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

ST. ANDREWS - The federal government is pondering legislation that would forbid massive liquefied natural gas tankers from entering Passamaquoddy Bay, the site of two potential American LNG facilities, Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson said Sunday.
Advertisement

Speaking on the eve of a diplomatic forum here, Thompson, whose New Brunswick Southwest riding is home to fierce local opposition to the projects, said numerous federal departments are currently in discussions.

"Regulatory action is something that we have considered that's underway now. What that will be I can't answer now," he said, noting the involvement of Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans.

"We will use every legal and diplomatic means to defend our position."

That position centres on preventing LNG tankers from entering Head Harbour Passage - a channel that runs between Campobello and Deer islands in Passamaquoddy Bay.

Canada considers it internal waters, but it is also the only route available for tankers to access proposed LNG terminal sites in nearby Maine.

Thompson's comments came after a meeting with a local opposition group, Save Passamaquoddy Bay, and Canada's new Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier.

Bernier, in St. Andrews for a gathering of ambassadors to Canada, was briefed on the reasons behind the resistance.

Locals fear the destruction of the fishery and tourism industries, while the federal government has cited unspecified threats to the environment and to public safety.

Proponents insist the waterway can be safely navigated.

"I'm a new minister (but) it's the same position," said Bernier in brief comments made to reporters. "This passage is internal waters and it's very important for us (to) protect our people, the environment and the industry here. It's a very important position. The prime minister has been very clear."

In a recent meeting, Stephen Harper reiterated to U.S. President George W. Bush that Canada will not allow tankers into the waterway, known for its narrow entry, strong currents and fog.

In February, Canada displayed its formal opposition in a letter from Canada's ambassador in Washington, Michael Wilson, to the chairman of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The commission is assessing the two LNG applications.

Janice Harvey, co-chair of the Save Passamaquoddy Bay group, said she was pleased with the meeting, though time did not allow for Bernier's scheduled boat tour of the bay.

"Our message to the new minister is that this is the time to wrap this up - to finish things off. Because we had the opportunity to brief him early in his mandate, it means it's now high on his agenda," she said.

"I think he's a minister we're going to be able to work with very well. He sees some urgency in this."

Harvey 's group says the scenic nature of the Bay and local industry will be displaced if the tankers arrive.

"Not everywhere needs to be industrialized," said Harvey, who has long called for a legislative ban. "Heavy industry, like LNG, is incompatible with what we have."

Their meeting lasted about half an hour and Thompson's personell briefed Bernier in advance.

"It's great to have him here on the ground and hear it from us," Thompson said.

"Canada is a sovereign nation that has taken a position and we would expect the developers to respect that position. It has been articulated in a very strong, forceful way and it's a position we're not going to back away from. I hope they're listening."

Echoed Harvey: "At some point we would think the developers would get the message. So far we haven't seen that.

"They are ignoring Canada's position, Who knows when it will stop?"
Comments (0)