First Nations report on BC's offshore moratorium

Rights, Risk and Respect
A First Nations Perspective on the Lifting of the Federal Moratorium on Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration in the Queen Charlotte Basin of British Columbia
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The First Nations Engagement Process (FNEP) on the question of whether or not to lift the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration in the Queen Charlotte Basin of British Columbia’s coastal waters was announced by Minister Efford on February 18, 2004. Originally slated to end June 30, the information gathering phase was extended to September 3, 2004. By that time the Minister’s representative Cheryl Brooks and NRCAN’s Zoë Carlson had held
meetings and conversations with representatives of approximately seventy First Nations communities, including the majority of the communities directly adjacent to or near to the boundaries of the Queen Charlotte Basin. Other communities were from the Winona, Tofino and Georgia Basin areas and a few from inland British Columbia.

The numerous First Nations of the Northwest Coast and other coastal communities and inland communities of British Columbia who participated in the FNEP unanimously indicated that it is not in the best interests of their people to lift the oil and gas exploration moratorium in the Queen Charlotte Basin. A small number added the qualifier that “it should not be lifted at this time”.

There are two perspectives contributing to this conclusion. One view is that an
informed decision cannot be made on the basis of currently available information. The second view is that there is enough information available now to definitively conclede that the moratorium should absolutely not be lifted.

Though not one First Nation that met with FNEP endorsed the lifting of the
moratorium, many First Nations indicated a preparedness to more fully explore the issue of offshore oil and gas exploration provided they are adequately resourced and given enough time to do so.