Ban BC tanker traffic, poll finds

B.C. residents want to ban tanker traffic, poll finds
Parties out of step with public, activist says

By MARK HUME
Globe and Mail
Friday, January 20, 2006

VANCOUVER -- British Columbians are strongly opposed to tanker traffic on the West Coast and don't want to see oil and gas development take place offshore, a new opinion poll released yesterday shows.

A survey of 500 B.C. residents by the Mustel Group found that 75 per cent of respondents favoured a ban on oil-tanker traffic in inside waters, while only 16 per cent said it should be allowed.

Opposition to oil and gas development offshore was less pronounced, but still showed a majority were against it, with 53 per cent saying they oppose opening up the B.C. coast to development and 35 per cent expressing support.

"It's significant and it cuts across party lines," said Will Horter, executive director of the Dogwood Initiative, a social-activist group that commissioned the poll with funding support from several environmental organizations.

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When respondents were asked to identify their federal voting intention, a breakout of data showed 73 per cent of Liberal supporters, 71 per cent of Conservative supporters and 85 per cent of NDP supporters were in favour of banning tanker traffic.

Of those opposed to opening up the B.C. coast to oil and gas development, 41 per cent were Liberal voters, 72 per cent were NDP and 44 per cent were Conservative.

Mr. Horter said he hopes the poll will convince all three parties to clarify their positions in the final days of the campaign.

Mr. Horter said that while the NDP has expressed opposition to offshore oil and gas development, and to tanker traffic, the Conservatives and Liberals have been more ambiguous on both issues, adopting policies that would allow development if supported by science.

"Those parties are out of step with the public," Mr. Horter said. "British Columbians are against all tanker traffic in northern coastal waters and federal parties aren't clear in their positions on whether they would allow this or not."

Jennifer Lash, executive director of the Living Oceans Society, agreed. "This is an issue that goes to the core values of people on the coast, but that's not reflected in party policy," she said.

"These results make it clear that the people of British Columbia want to see the moratorium [declared in 1972 against tanker traffic on the West Coast] continued," Ms. Lash said.

She said the findings are significant because of a proposal, now under environmental review, that would see a pipeline built from Alberta to Kitimat.

Herb Pond, the mayor of Prince Rupert, questioned the survey results, saying he thinks there is substantial public support for oil and gas development. "With the proper safeguards in place, overwhelmingly, British Columbians are in favour of exploration," he said.

The provincewide poll was a random survey of 501 adults. It was conducted between Jan. 10 and 16, and is considered accurate within plus or minus 4.4 per cent.