Listen to this article
Approximately 5 minutes
The audio version of this article was created using artificial intelligence technology. Pronunciation errors may occur. We work with our partners to continually analyze and improve results.
For years, oil tankers have been banned from northern British Columbia waters to protect environmentally sensitive coastlines from natural disasters.
But now the federal government is open to the idea of changing the moratorium.
Debate over the future of the tanker ban has emerged following the signing by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November, it outlined steps to create a potential pipeline to transport oil from Alberta to the Pacific coast.
Here's what you need to know about the oil tanker moratorium and the territory it's intended to protect.
What is a ban on oil tankers?
The federal government first imposed a moratorium on oil tankers back in 1972, but it was not legislated because Oil Tanker Moratorium Lawuntil 2019.
The ban covers an area stretching from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the British Columbia-Alaska border.
The law prohibits oil tankers from stopping, loading or unloading at any port in the designated area.
It applies to ships carrying a cargo of more than 12,500 metric tons of crude oil or persistent petroleum products such as bitumen and Bunker C fuels, which disperse slowly and can linger in the environment.
Moratorium does not apply to refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Fines for violation of the Tanker Moratorium Law may include fines of up to $5 million per instance of non-compliance.
What is a voluntary tanker exclusion zone?
The federal government established a voluntary tanker exclusion zone in the late 1980s. It offers a large buffer zone between tankers and much of the British Columbia coast.
This boundary extends further offshore, approximately 100 km west of Haida Gwaii and approximately 40 km from Vancouver Island.
It is designed for U.S. tankers carrying oil between the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System's offshore terminal in Valdez, Alaska, and refineries in Washington state.
“The size of the area was based on a calculation of the worst possible drift of a disabled tanker with cargo, depending on the time required for help to arrive,” Transport Canada explains on his website.
CBC News has confirmed that the federal government has agreed to possible exceptions to the tanker ban on British Columbia's north coast as it negotiates a new energy deal with Alberta.
How dangerous are the waters in the moratorium zone?
The Hecate Strait, known for its treacherous nature, is often a source of concern regarding the movement of oil tankers.
It separates Haida Gwaii from mainland British Columbia, and all types of boats, including fishing boats, ferries and container ships, have encountered problems on this stretch of water.
There is a “cocktail of risks” when it comes to vessel navigation in any area of open water, says Mariah McCooey, director of Pacific hydrography for the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), a division of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' science division tasked with supporting safe navigation.
But she explains that what's unique about the Hecate Strait is that it is particularly shallow, which helps the big Pacific waves rise even higher.
How do ships navigate in this area?
Seafarers are what McCooey calls “risk machines” that use all available data to manage their ships.
Navigational maps of areas off Haida Gwaii and the northern coast of British Columbia have improved significantly over the past 10 years thanks to new technology and data collection, she said.
Before that, McCooey explains, the charts were based on survey data dating back to 1912 and measured by hand.
She said CHS now has 50 updated maps covering hundreds of kilometers of coastline, using high-quality sensors that can collect thousands of data points at once and provide a clearer picture of what lies beneath the surface of northern B.C.'s waters.
Any ship traveling through the Hecate Strait will also rely on the knowledge of a specialized pilot tasked with being on board and guiding the ships from ports to sea.
A potential new oil pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia is shedding light on the dangerous British Columbia waters tankers would have to navigate if it were built. CBC's Janella Hamilton dives into the consequences and concerns.
Who is for and against the moratorium?
Those who want to see the tanker ban lifted or modified include Alberta's oil sector, Premier Smith and the federal Conservative leader. Pierre Poilievre – argue that this prevents Alberta from exporting oil to key markets in Asia.
Supporters of the moratorium, including First Nations and environmental groups say the ban is vital to protecting environmentally sensitive coastal areas and critical marine ecosystems that are key to both the province's economy and Indigenous way of life.
“There is no technology that can clean up an oil spill in the sea or salmon river,” the coastal First Nations said in a statement emailed to CBC News last month, calling the moratorium “a matter of national responsibility.”
The NDP-led government of British Columbia also supports the moratorium, and in November Premier David Eby signed the declarationwith coastal First Nations in calling on Ottawa to maintain its ban on oil tankers.
The National's At Issue panel examines the partnership between Premier Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to build a new pipeline from Alberta, and the political and environmental backlash it has sparked.
