William D. Casey, M.P.

Cumberland Colchester

712 Confederation Building

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6

House of Commons

Chambre des communes

Canada

Press Release

Ottawa Tel: (613) 992-3366

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Casey questions Government’s environmental emergency preparedness

November 25, 2002

Ottawa – Bill Casey, MP for Cumberland Colchester tabled questions in the House of Commons today to find out what Department would be in charge of responding to an environmental disaster, similar to the recent oil spill off the northern coast of Spain.  Additionally, Casey questioned if the necessary resources are available to do so and whether or not there is an emergency response action plan in place.  Casey directed the inquiry to the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of Transport.

            The chaos in responding to the initial spillage off the oil tanker Prestige resulted in a delay of response and the eventual sinking of the ship.  The spillage could have been contained to 5000 tons, but instead 77,000 tons of oil now sits at the bottom of the ocean due to the apparent lack of an emergency response plan.  The ticking environmental time bomb could prove twice as disastrous as the spillage of 34,000 tons of crude oil off the Exxon Valdez off the coast of Alaska in 1989.  There has been an estimated 19 major oil spills since 1967. 

            Casey says, “I am concerned that Canada is particularly vulnerable due to our significant reduction in resources. Since 1995, the Canadian Coast Guard has removed 75 ships from service and the cutbacks to the Canadian military are being criticized by Canadian and international organizations”

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For further information:

Bill Casey, M.P.

Cumberland Colchester

(613) 992-3366