Power from the ground up

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) is voting for a third straight year on a resolution related to oil pipeline and tanker proposals.

And this year’s resolution takes the cake.

Sponsored by the municipality of Saanich, Resolution A8 recognizes that:

“A crude oil spill would have devastating and long lasting effects on British Columbia’s unique and diverse coast, which provides critical marine habitat and marine resources that sustain the social, cultural, environmental and economic health of coastal and First Nations communities”

It calls on the UBCM to:

“...oppose projects that would lead to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through B.C.’s coastal waters…and urge the Premier of British Columbia, the Leader of the Official Opposition and members of the Legislative Assembly to use whatever legislative and administrative means that are available to stop [this] expansion of oil tanker traffic.”

Wow, right?

This would be the strongest statement in defence of our coast ever passed collectively by B.C.’s local governments. It would signal opposition not only to Enbridge's and Kinder Morgan's proposals, but any other project folks in the oilpatch can dream up to bring more crude oil tankers through B.C. waters.

For it to pass, your local mayor and councillors need to know protecting B.C.'s coast is important to you.

STEP 1 - IMPORTANT: Select your municipality from the drop-down list. If you live in Saanich, please thank your councillors and mayor for sponsoring the resolution in the first place!

STEP 2: Fill in your details.

STEP 3: Write a message to your local representatives and politely say that you are super excited about UBCM Resolution A8, the one about oil tankers, and that you would be really proud if your local representatives voted in favour of this resolution at the UBCM convention. Don’t demand; just say “it would be awesome if you did this.”

Remember to:
1. Identify yourself as a resident
2. Make sure to reference Resolution A8
3. Ask that Mayor and Council support it at the upcoming UBCM convention.

The more love and support our elected representatives receive to support this resolution the higher the chance it will actually pass.

And then we'll have made history together.

Can't find your municipality OR live in a Regional District? Try finding contact info for your reps on Civic Info BC and emailing directly from your email account.