Newfoundland coast at stake: Have your say on oil drilling in the Gulf

Contributed by Tara Gadoua.

Starting Sunday, 30 September, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) is holding a series of public consultations along the coast of Western Newfoundland discussing the future of major oil and gas development at the Old Harry site, only 70km from the coast of Newfoundland. There are a number of questions and concerns being raised over the project; namely, what are the consequences of an oil spill in the Gulf of St-Lawrence?

The gulf is home to a multitude of marine animals which is reflected in its 1.5-billion dollar fishing industry. It is a breeding ground for many species, has the largest krill population in the North Atlantic and is thus a leading food source for nearly all marine species. Any oil spill in this region would have profound and long-lasting effects not only on wildlife, but on the fishery as well. One has only to look at the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to see the effects of a spill. No matter how profitable the industry is in the gulf, it cannot withstand the costs of remediation for an oil spill in terms of clean-up and lost revenue due to negative impacts on the fishing season. The situation is even worse in the St-Lawrence, where its waters only empty into the ocean once a year and a spill anywhere in the gulf affects all five provinces that border it.

Other issues have been the result of the way the process is being conducted. The public consultations are being rushed, and are taking place before the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which is designed to ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated into the earliest stages of planning, could be completed. Moreover, the company chosen for the assessment has ties to the petroleum board itself and has worked extensively in offshore development. How can we ensure impartial research and assessments from a company with such clearly defined oil interests?

It cannot be denied that oil development would generate a substantial sum of revenue, but how much of this gain would stay in Newfoundland and not disappear in the pockets of foreign investors? Is it worth the risk to the fishing industry and the environment?

Other questions that need to be answered: Does the Board have complete baseline data on all key Gulf species and ecosystems? Does the Board have a complete scientific understanding of the impacts of seismic exploration?  Has this research been done by independent scientists, researchers who were not paid by industry?

Have your say.

The public consultation is the only opportunity that citizens of Newfoundland have to voice their concerns over this development, and to pose serious questions. The above represents only a fraction of what could occur if the C-NLOPB is allowed to go ahead with operations as planned. What takes place on our coasts is a decision that belongs to us as much as it does the C-NLOPB, and it is time to make that known.

The public consultation in Corner Brook takes place Tuesday, October 2 from 5-9pm at the Pepsi Centre. I urge you as fellow citizens of this beautiful province to attend this meeting and make yourself heard by your presence and voice.

Not in Corner Brook? Public consultations are also taking place in:

Port aux Basques: Sunday, Sept 30, 5-9pm, Bruce II Sports Centre

Stephenville: Monday, Oct 1, 5-9pm, Holiday Inn

Corner Brook: Tuesday, Oct 2, 5-9pm, Pepsi Centre

Rocky Harbour: Wednesday, Oct 3, 5-9pm, Community Hall

Lourdes de Blanc Sablon, QC: Thursday, Oct 4, 5-9pm, Salle Municipal

photo credit: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center via photopin cc

  • Marilee Pittman

    Is it Corner Brook on Tuesday Oct 2nd? The last paragraph says “Tuesday Oct 5th”.

    • http://www.cornerbrooker.com/ Tom Cochrane

      Good catch! It’s Tuesday, October 2 in Corner Brook. I’ve edited it to reflect that.

  • Kyle Curlew

    Beautiful article!! I think everyone who has something to say about this should make their way out!

  • Discconnected

    Nothing is ever perfect, but looking at the oil industry around St Johns and its positive effects on employment and growth in the general Avalon area, I find myself wishing for some of those effects to hit the west coast and especially Corner Brook, which is in need of such a boost. Yes, I know the negative aspects of oil on St Johns such as the rise in drug related crime, the risk (so far not an issue) of oil spills at Hibernia and I guess rising housing costs, but overall the growth and vitailty of St Johns and area seem to be a very positive thing in my opinion.
    Yes, there are risks and at its most basic, I know that burning fossil fuels is not a good thing, however, that point aside, when you look at the amount of oil exploration and extractment around the world, spills are not a common thing and incidents like the Gulf of Mexico spill cited and the Exxon Valdez are generally considered to be issues of human carelessness, not ones of failed technology. As for burning fossil fuels, like many I would love to snap my fingers and have the world run on clean power, but that seems far far away in the future
    I have to be honest and say that I would welcome the disccovery of oil and its proper development in western NL.

  • Shawn

    I’m all for stepping away from the entire oil industry… or downsizing it. There is always a spill, or a leak, something to damage the ecosystem. It’s always about short term profit vs long term growth. Oil is a non-renewable resource, short term. I don’t want it around my island.

  • Britt

    The greed needs to stop. Newfoundland is a rare and unique landscape and does not dearve to be damaged by the endless greed of our corrupt government who have little respect for future generations and are only looking for short term profitability. It makes me sick.

  • Away from home

    There should be some consultations taking place outside of NL where many able NLders are gone to work hoping to return to the homeland at some point. Show up for us. Don’t let everything that is worthy of a fight be taken without putting up one. Get the facts before you make your choice. Short term gain is not a sustainable thing.

  • ThePZA

    Consultations are the best way. Listen to all the sides. Employment needs to improve to stop the young people from leaving. With oil, you have an area revitalized, more money and prosperity that will trickle down to everyone, but at some environmental cost, no matter what people say. Without it, the slow drain continues. Tough call.