Prohibition of the Transport of Dilbit through Canadian Waters
Preamble
Whereas some portion of the petroleum shipments through the Kinder Morgan pipeline that terminates in Vancouver is diluted bitumen (‘dilbit’), and
Whereas there are currently no methods available for cleaning up dilbit spilled into seawater, and
Whereas dilbit spilled into the waters through which the tankers pass will have serious negative consequences on the First Nations’ marine resources of the area and Kinder Morgan and the Government of Canada have not consulted with First Nations on this threat to their resources, and
Whereas the suppliers that produce the dilutant used in dilbit refuse to divulge the exact chemical composition of their product, making cleanup of spills much more difficult, and
Whereas shipping unrefined and unprocessed raw materials out of the country does little to contribute to Canada’s economy while the country is forced to accept the risks associated with these shipments,
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that a Green government will take a precautionary approach and terminate all shipments of dilbit through Canadian waters.
Background
The Kinder Morgan pipeline that runs from Edmonton to the Westridge Marine terminal in Burnaby currently transports approximately 300,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Tankers are loaded there that then travel out through Vancouver Harbour, the channels of the southern Gulf Islands and out the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Some portion of these shipments is currently diluted bitumen (‘dilbit’), bitumen from the tar sands of Alberta, diluted with a toxic petroleum dilutant that allows it to flow through a pipeline. The exact chemical formula of this dilutant is a proprietary trade secret, and it is produced outside North America. Given that this material is produced outside of North America, the shipment of dilbit from Alberta through British Columbia to offshore markets does nothing to reduce Canada and North America’s dependence on imported energy. The companies proposing to ship dilbit through BC waters have conceded that they
don’t understand how dilbit behaves in seawater, nor do they have methods for cleaning it up.
Kinder Morgan is currently seeking to expand its pipeline to expand shipments from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day. It should be noted that once petroleum is loaded onto tankers it is no longer considered to be the responsibility of the pipeline or oil companies, and collecting damages from ship owners has proven problematic in the past. Typically when such incidents occur they declare bankruptcy and disappear. It is very likely that the people of Canada would be forced to assume liability for any spills that occur.
There has recently been some discussions amongst those in the petroleum industry that given the opposition to shipping dilbit through British Columbia they should consider shipping it out through Hudson Bay. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/31/oil-producers-eye-arctic-ba...
It should be noted that this resolution calls for a prohibition on the shipment of dilbit through all Canadian waters, not just British Columbia waters.
Code
Proposal Type
Submitter Name
Party Commentary
This motion is consistent with Green Party environmental policy.
Preamble
Whereas some portion of the petroleum shipments through the Kinder Morgan pipeline that terminates in Vancouver is diluted bitumen (‘dilbit’), and
Whereas there are currently no methods available for cleaning up dilbit spilled into seawater, and
Whereas dilbit spilled into the waters through which the tankers pass will have serious negative consequences on the First Nations’ marine resources of the area and Kinder Morgan and the Government of Canada have not consulted with First Nations on this threat to their resources, and
Whereas the suppliers that produce the dilutant used in dilbit refuse to divulge the exact chemical composition of their product, making cleanup of spills much more difficult, and
Whereas shipping unrefined and unprocessed raw materials out of the country does little to contribute to Canada’s economy while the country is forced to accept the risks associated with these shipments,
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that a Green government will take a precautionary approach and terminate all shipments of dilbit through Canadian waters.
Sponsors
Background
The Kinder Morgan pipeline that runs from Edmonton to the Westridge Marine terminal in Burnaby currently transports approximately 300,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Tankers are loaded there that then travel out through Vancouver Harbour, the channels of the southern Gulf Islands and out the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Some portion of these shipments is currently diluted bitumen (‘dilbit’), bitumen from the tar sands of Alberta, diluted with a toxic petroleum dilutant that allows it to flow through a pipeline. The exact chemical formula of this dilutant is a proprietary trade secret, and it is produced outside North America. Given that this material is produced outside of North America, the shipment of dilbit from Alberta through British Columbia to offshore markets does nothing to reduce Canada and North America’s dependence on imported energy. The companies proposing to ship dilbit through BC waters have conceded that they
don’t understand how dilbit behaves in seawater, nor do they have methods for cleaning it up.
Kinder Morgan is currently seeking to expand its pipeline to expand shipments from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels per day. It should be noted that once petroleum is loaded onto tankers it is no longer considered to be the responsibility of the pipeline or oil companies, and collecting damages from ship owners has proven problematic in the past. Typically when such incidents occur they declare bankruptcy and disappear. It is very likely that the people of Canada would be forced to assume liability for any spills that occur.
There has recently been some discussions amongst those in the petroleum industry that given the opposition to shipping dilbit through British Columbia they should consider shipping it out through Hudson Bay. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/31/oil-producers-eye-arctic-ba...
It should be noted that this resolution calls for a prohibition on the shipment of dilbit through all Canadian waters, not just British Columbia waters.
Party Commentary
This motion is consistent with Green Party environmental policy.