Toronto, June 18, 2013 – Following the announcement made today by federal Natural Resources minister Joe Oliver that the liability for oil companies drilling offshore in Canada’s Arctic will increase from $40 million to $1 billion, Christy Ferguson, Arctic Campaign Coordinator with Greenpeace Canada said:
“In revising this legislation, the federal government had an opportunity to make oil companies fully responsible for any spills they cause in the fragile Arctic. Instead, they chose to continue protecting the biggest companies in the world.
“Companies like BP and Exxon want to drill in Canada's Arctic despite the fact that no one knows how to prevent a disastrous oil spill in its icy waters, no one knows how to stop a spill once it starts, no one knows how to clean up an oil spill in the Arctic, and both companies have horrific records when it comes to accidents.
“No one should be allowed to drill in Canada's Arctic Ocean; but if the Harper government allows companies to go forward recklessly, they should be responsible for the full cost of any damage they cause, full stop.”
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