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Education In Action

Students in my Environmental Legislation course at Kwantlen Polytechnic University were recently featured in the Langley Advance newspaper for their efforts to raise awareness about Styrofoam and their advocacy for a province-wide "take back" regulation - all part of a classroom policy project. Part of the course included learning about public engagement and how to write effective press releases. Less than an hour after sending their press release, this group got a call from a local reporter. The students were pleasantly surprised to see their classroom work generate real life outside interest and dialogue about an environmental issue - pretty cool!

Media Round-Up: Oil Spill In The Great Bear Rainforest

Global TV BC (May 3, 2012)

Fuel Slick Raising Concern‎ Opinion250 News (blog) - 6 hours ago By 250 News Hartley Bay, BC- The leadership of the Gitga'at Nation held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss what they see as a failure of the federal government to respond appropriately to an unfolding maritime oil spill in the Great Bear ...

Northern BC oil spill: Coast Guard's alleged 'gone fishing' response sparks ... The Vancouver Observer - ‎14 hours ago‎ Coast Guard staff sent to assess a Northern BC oil spill were caught on video fishing from their boat—a response the Gitga'at Nation says is "disgraceful". An oil spill reported in the Grenville Channel near Hartley Bay, BC this week has the local ...

BC First Nation calls for government action on historic wreck leaking fuel Global Toronto, Global Edmonton, GlobalNews.ca, Global Montreal, 680 News, Global Winnipeg, The Tyee and others - ‎May 2, 2012‎ The Gitga'at Nation of Hartley Bay announced Tuesday that a commercial pilot has reported a fuel slick about 60 metres wide and between 3.2 and eight kilometres long in Grenville Channel, south of Prince Rupert. The area is the final resting place of ...

Cullen says government should be embarassed by Grenville Channel spill Prince Rupert Northern View - ‎May 3, 2012‎ As reported yesterday, members of the Gitga'at Nation of Hartley Bay reported a fuel slick five miles long and 200 feet wide in the waters of Grenville Channel. Today the Coast Guard, who sent a ship from Prince Rupert to respond, said they would be ...

B.C. wreck still leaking fuel: First Nation MetroNews Canada - ‎May 2, 2012‎ The Gitga'at Nation of Hartley Bay announced Tuesday that a commercial pilot has reported a fuel slick about 60 metres wide and between 3.2 and eight kilometres long in Grenville Channel, south of Prince Rupert. The area is the final resting place of ...

Hartley Bay oil spill - a tanker in a tea cup? Opinion250 News (blog) - ‎6 hours ago‎ As Arnold Clifton, from the Gitga'at First Nation, has said, the fuel from the wreck is “still burping stuff up” (Postmedia News, May 3). So, after 66 years, the heavy oil from the US army transport ship has never been cleaned up, other than a couple ...

Shipwreck leaking fuel alarms BC First Nation CBC.ca - ‎May 2, 2012‎ The Gitga'at Nation of Hartley Bay announced Tuesday that a commercial pilot has reported a fuel slick about 60 metres wide and between 3.2 and eight kilometres long in Grenville Channel, south of Prince Rupert. The area is the final resting place of ...

Natives on BC coast haunted by threat from sunken Second World War ship Vancouver Sun - ‎May 2, 2012‎ "I want to see them clean this mess up," Arnold Clifton, chief councillor of the Gitga'at Nation, said in an interview Wednesday. "It's getting pretty bad again." The US transport ship, Brigadier General MG Zalinski, is thought to have carried 700 ...

Coast Guard to hire divers to patch and inspect wreck off BC Coast Globe and Mail - ‎May 2, 2012‎ “It's been ongoing for a while now,” said Arthur Clifton, a fisherman and a councillor with the Gitga'at Nation in Hartley Bay. “It's a big worry – with our shellfish and everything else.” The wreck is in the Grenville Channel, about 40 kilometres ...

Gitga'at Report Oil Spill in Grenville Channel CFTKTV - ‎May 3, 2012‎ The Gitga'at Nation is reporting a large oil spill in Grenville Channel, near Hartley Bay. They estimate the spill as between two and five miles long and 200 feet wide -- and they say the location is near the proposed tanker route for the Enbridge ...

Oil slick from old warship Windsor Star - ‎9 hours ago‎ The Gitga'at First Nation say previous pleas to deal with the wreck were ignored. "We could be looking at serious environmental impacts, including threats to our traditional shellfish harvesting areas," said Arnold Clifton, Gitga'at chief councillor.

Maritime spill deepens opposition to oil tankers bunkerworld (subscription) - ‎16 hours ago‎ In Canada, the leadership of the Gitga'at Nation held an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss what they consider to be "a failure of the federal government to respond appropriately to an unfolding maritime oil spill in the Great Bear...

BC Coast Oil Spill Points Up Enbridge Pipeline Danger Environment News Service - ‎17 hours ago‎ HARTLEY BAY, British Columbia, Canada, May 3, 2012 (ENS) - The Gitga'at Nation of Hartley Bay has reported an oil spill between two and five miles long in the Grenville Channel, not far from the tanker route for the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway...

Oil slick emerges off BC from long-sunk ship Vancouver Sun, The Province, Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald - ‎May 2, 2012‎ The Gitga'at First Nation say previous pleas to deal with the wreck were ignored. "We could be looking at serious environmental impacts, including threats to our traditional shellfish harvesting areas," said Arnold Clifton, Gitga'at chief councillor.

1946 shipwreck haunts Hartley Bay with oil, bombs Victoria Times Colonist - ‎May 3, 2012‎ The slick has sent shivers of apprehension through the Gitga'at First Nation of Hartley Bay, who say previous pleas to deal with the wreck were ignored. "We could be looking at serious environmental impacts, including threats to our traditional ...

Old wreck threatens BC's North Coast Castanet.net - ‎May 2, 2012‎ The Gitga'at Nation of Hartley Bay announced Tuesday that a commercial pilot has reported a fuel slick about 60 metres wide and between 3.2 and eight kilometres long in Grenville Channel, south of Prince Rupert. The area is the final resting place of ...

Oil Spill Response: Canadian Coast Guard “Gone Fishing”

CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Lead federal agency for oil spill response sends fishing party instead of clean-up crew; Gitga’at Nation accuses federal government of mishandling oil spill response in the Great Bear Rainforest.

HARTLEY BAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA (May 3, 2012) - The leadership of the Gitga’at Nation held an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss what they see as a failure of the federal government to respond appropriately to an unfolding maritime oil spill in the Great Bear Rainforest. The spill is originating from the Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski, a U.S. army ship that sank in 1946 with 700 tonnes of bunker fuel on board.

The Gitga’at say the government is underestimating the size of the spill and they are demanding a full clean-up of the wreckage.

“We sent our own people to sample for oil yesterday, and when they got there, they found the Coast Guard fishing,” says Arnold Clifton, Chief Councillor of the Gitga’at Nation. “It’s disgraceful. How can Canadians have any confidence in this government’s ability to deal with an oil spill if they don’t take it seriously?”

The oil spill, which varies in appearance depending on the tides, was recently reported by a commercial pilot as reaching a size between two and five miles long and 200 feet wide inside the Grenville Channel. The Gitga’at have taken their own photos and video of the spill, including an aerial photo showing concentrated plumes of upwelling oil.

“We were promised this would be cleaned-up by 2010,” says Clifton. “Two years later nothing has happened and it’s only getting worse. We’ve had enough excuses. It’s time for action. Our people depend on a healthy ocean for their livelihood.

In addition to the Zalinsky, the BC ferry Queen of the North is also leaking diesel fuel just south of the Grenville channel. The ferry sank in 2006 with 220,000 litres of diesel fuel and 23,000 litres of lubricating oil on board. The federal government has also been promising to remove the fuel on board that wreckage since 2006, but with no results.

“The last time we took a fuel sample from the Queen of the North and sent it to the Coast Guard, they yelled at us and asked us why we were taking samples,” says Marven Robinson, a Councillor with the Hartley Bay Band Council. “We’re taking our own samples because the federal government isn’t doing its job.”

The Gitga'at, who were the first responders to the Queen of the North sinking, say the federal government's failure to manage these spills has deepened their opposition to any plan to have oil tankers travel through their territorial waters. The proposed Enbridge pipeline would bring 225 oil tankers per year through Gitga'at territory.

Contact Information: Andrew Frank Media Relations 604-367-2112

Oil Spill Reported In The Great Bear Rainforest

Gitga’at Nation reports large spill believed to be from sunken munitions ship; calls on federal government for immediate response and full clean-up. HARTLEY BAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA (May 2, 2012) - The Gitga’at Nation of Hartley Bay is reporting an oil spill, between two and five miles long and 200 feet wide inside the Grenville Channel, not far from the proposed tanker route for the Enbridge Gateway pipeline. The spill was spotted by a commercial pilot and reported to the Gitga’at Nation and the Canadian Coast Guard yesterday evening.

A Coast Guard landing craft from Prince Rupert is on its way to the spill, and expected to arrive by 12pm. The Gitga’at are sending their own Guardians to take samples and have chartered a plane to take aerial photos of the spill.

“If this spill is as big as the pilots are reporting, then we’re looking at serious environmental impacts, including threats to our traditional shellfish harvesting areas,” says Arnold Clifton, Chief Councillor of the Gitga’at Nation. “We need an immediate and full clean-up response from the federal government ASAP.”

Heavy oil, known as “bunker c” is thought to be upwelling from the USAT Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski, a U.S. army transport ship that sank in 1946 with 700 tonnes of bunker fuel on board. The Canadian government has been saying it would remove the oil and munitions from the ship since 2006, but with no results.

“Right now we’re focused on getting a handle on the size of the spill and the clean-up that’s required,” says Clifton. “But this incident definitely raises questions about the federal government’s ability to guard against oil spills and to honour its clean-up obligations. As a result, our nation has serious concerns about any proposal to have tankers travel through our coastal waters, including the Enbridge proposal.”

The spill is just the latest in a series of spills of bunker oil and diesel coming from the Zalinski and the BC Ferry Queen of the North, which sank in 2006. Despite government assurances of clean-up, both wreckages continue to leak fuel, fouling the marine environment, and heightening the fear of future oil spills.

The Gitga’at depend on the ocean for 40% of their traditional diet.

Photos of the spill are available below, with aerial photos and b-roll expected shortly.

Contact Information: Andrew Frank Media Relations 604-367-2112

Oil spill in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Gitga'at Guardian takes a sample from the spill.

Oil on the water.

 

First Nation Withdraws From Enbridge Gateway Pipeline Review; Accuses Federal Government of Predetermining Project Approval

Nuxalk Nation cites the federal government's failure to consult honourably for decision to withdraw from National Energy Board review. BELLA COOLA, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - April 5, 2012) - A number of Hereditary Chiefs and elders of the Nuxalk First Nation of Bella Coola have counseled their elected Chief and Council to withdraw as intervenors from the National Energy Board's Joint Review Panel Process for the Enbridge Gateway oil tanker and pipeline project. They say the federal government has already predetermined its approval of the project.

The Nuxalk are the second First Nation to pull out of the pipeline review process in recent months, while other nations have refused to intervene all together. The withdrawal is another sign that the federal government is mishandling its relationship with First Nations, including its statements last week that it will change the rules for the Enbridge pipeline hearings retroactively, which is unfair and will likely further compromise the regulatory review.

Public hearings in the coastal community of Bella Bella, home of the Heiltsuk First Nation, were delayed after a peaceful community demonstration against the proposed Enbridge project with drumming and singing at the airport.

"There is no honour in the federal Crown's approach to consulting with First Nations on the Enbridge project," says Andrew Andy, the elected Chief of the Nuxalk Nation. "Recent statements make it clear that the Prime Minister has already decided to approve the super-tanker project that would violate First Nations' Title and Rights and put our coastal waters at risk of a major oil spill."

The Nuxalk support the decision of other Nations to oppose the process through the Joint Review Panel, but say the review is not being done in good faith and has been undermined by repeated and controversial public statements by the Prime Minister and Natural Resources Minister that suggest a predetermined approval.

"Despite our serious concern about this process, including the lack of any decision-making role for First Nations, we entered the process in good faith," says Andy. "The government's disrespectful behaviour these past months makes clear that our good faith is not being returned."

"How can we participate in a process driven by a government that has labelled us 'socially dysfunctional'?" says Charlie Nelson, a Hereditary Chief of the Nuxalk Nation, referring to recent controversial statements by Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver. "Where is the honour in the Crown stating that it's prepared to violate our constitutionally-protected Title and Rights before the work of gathering information on the scope of infringement is even done?"

The Nuxalk say the Joint Review Panel has no mandate to consult with First Nations, and there has been no clarity provided by the federal government about how it will consult on issues that fall outside of the Joint Review Panel process.

Contact Information:

Nuxalk Band Administration Chief Councillor Andrew Andy (250) 799-5613 / 5959

Nuxalk Hereditary Chief, Charlie Nelson (250) 305-4182

Gitga'at First Nation Reacts to Minister of Natural Resources' Insulting Remarks

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - (March 21, 2012) - Arnold Clifton, Chief Councillor of the Gitga'at First Nation, issued the following statement in response to media reports that Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, called First Nations communities "socially dysfunctional" during a speech this morning to the Vancouver Board of Trade, extolling the virtues of "responsible resource development."

"This language is insulting to First Nations and the Minister should apologize," says Chief Clifton of the Gitga'at First Nation. "This slip of the tongue shows that stereotypes about First Nations people are alive and well in the federal government, and it helps explain why this government has such a mistrustful and dysfunctional relationship with Aboriginal communities."

Speaking specifically about his own nation's dealings with the federal government and its controversial support of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, Chief Clifton continued:

"If you want to talk about 'social dysfunction' let's talk about the impacts that an oil spill from the Enbridge oil tanker and pipeline project would have on our community. We are already struggling with the effects of an oil spill from the Queen of the North ferry, which sank in 2006, and the Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski (a munitions ship that sank in 1946) is leaking more oil everyday. The federal government has yet to clean up or contain these spills, and several of our traditional harvesting areas are now closed. 40% of our food supply comes from the ocean. One oil spill from a supertanker in BC's coastal waters would wipeout our livelihoods forever - now that's dysfunctional."

Contact Information: Andrew Frank Media Relations 604-367-2112