Tag Archives: Western Canada Spill Response Corporation

New system alerts coastal First Nations about hazardous spills on land and water

Editor’s note: According to the BC Treaty Commission’s Interactive Map, the waters of Von Donop Inlet and Carrington Bay, on Cortes Island, are within the traditional territory We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Nations. They also claim Quadra, Read and Raza Islands, as well as Toba Inlet. These are all areas that are within the traditional territories of the Klahoose First Nation. whose principle village is on Cortes Island. The K’omoks and Klahoose First Nations have overlapping claims on Read, Quadra and Mitlenatch Islands.

By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A new notification system and app that alerts coastal B.C. First Nations about oil or hazardous chemical spills on their lands and waters was recently launched.

The initiative was developed collaboratively between 12 First Nations and the province’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The process was coordinated by Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative.  

The system uses technology from Alertable, an emergency alert system that is used by various local governments to notify residents about critical alerts in their communities such as those related to floods or fires. 

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The Race to Recover a Sunken Tanker Truck

Editor’s note: The vessel was recovered Friday afternoon. Guy Adams, owner of Marine Link Transportation, told My Campbell River Now that the tanks are now onshore and about 10% of the fuel leaked into the ocean. He aded that local First Nations were a crucial part of response and recovery efforts, pinpointing the sunken truck and monitoring environmental impacts.

By  Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A mission is underway to recover a fuel truck holding 17,000 litres of diesel oil that rolled off a barge and sank off Vancouver Island last  week.

The Canadian Coast Guard  and other responders are trying to raise the truck that sank in the  Chancellor Channel about 55 kilometres north of Campbell River. 

An internal memo from the Transportation  Safety Board confirms the truck carried diesel oil. The federal  Department of Fisheries and Oceans confirmed the truck contained five  separate tanks, one of which is leaking.

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Coast Guard concerned about pollution after boat sinks near Haida Gwaii

By Kaitlyn Bailey,  Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Parks Canada and the Council of the Haida Nation are concerned about pollution after a tour boat sunk off the coast of Haida Gwaii.

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Canada invests more in oceans protection, but measures fail to salvage sinking fishing boat

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the next phase of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan on July 19. It comes with a commitment to add $2 billion over nine years.

This builds on the $1.5 billion that’s been directed towards the program, which was launched in 2016.

Established to strengthen the protection of Canada’s coasts and wildlife, the Oceans Protection Plan is being labelled as a “Canadian success story” by the prime minister’s office (PMO).

Continue reading Canada invests more in oceans protection, but measures fail to salvage sinking fishing boat