Lifting The Moratorium: The First Step To Exploring British Columbia's Offshore Oil & Gas Potential

VICTORIA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) made a submission today to the Public Review Panel of the Federal Moratorium on Oil and Gas Activities Offshore British Columbia, known as the Priddle Panel. The CTF contracted Dr. Chris Campbell, an expert on the socio-economic benefits of the offshore oil and gas industry in Newfoundland, to prepare the submission.

BC director Sara MacIntyre stated, "we are asking the Panel to take a look at the enormous economic benefits reaped by the east coast in the past years, to think about future economic development and ultimately recommend removal of the moratorium." MacIntyre further noted that "the removal of the moratorium is just one small step, and it will not open the floodgates to drilling, but it will allow for a comprehensive exploration of BC's offshore resource potential."

The Public Review Panel is an advisory body only and will not be making a final determination on the status of the moratoria but simply a recommendation to the Natural Resources Minister. The three member panel has a two-fold mandate:

(1) to hear the views of the public regarding whether or not the federal moratorium should be lifted for selected areas, and

(2) to examine the broad environmental and socio-economic impacts of lifting the moratorium. The Federal Panel has been conducting public hearings and reviewing written submissions from across the province since April 5, 2004 and will finish May 15, 2004.

MacIntyre added that, "the provincial and federal governments have been examining this issue for decades, dozens of technical reviews and scientific studies have demonstrated that there is no scientific basis to maintain the moratorium or to prohibit all offshore activities. British Columbia has waited on the sidelines and watched the east coast become a leader in technological development, oceanic sciences and offshore expertise. Meanwhile, because of the federal moratorium, BC doesn't even know how much oil and gas is out there."

"The submission draws on the east coast experience and highlights increases in personal income levels, employment and examples of communities that once struggled economically but are now growing and tied to an emerging industry with long-term, full-time employment," explained MacIntyre. "Lifting the moratorium is the first step to assessing the offshore oil and gas potential in this province. If the federal government can work with Newfoundland, then why not BC "