Court decision leaves marine ecosystems vulnerable to impacts of exploratory oil and gas drilling
Federal judge dismisses concerns raised by environmental groups
ST JOHN’S, N.L./TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE BEOTHUK AND MI’KMAQ – The Federal Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s assessment of the ecosystem impacts of exploratory oil and gas drilling off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the regulation which exempts all future exploratory drilling from assessment.
In a decision released Monday, Justice Bell determined that a Regional Assessment for exploratory drilling in the area was – in his opinion – satisfactory and upheld a regulation exempting future projects in the region from further scrutiny under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA).
Lawyers from Ecojustice represented the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, World Wildlife Fund Canada, and Ecology Action Centre on the matter. The groups say they are disappointed in the decision and concerned it sets a disturbingly low bar for the standard that Regional Assessments must meet under the IAA. The groups also warn the decision sets a dangerous precedent that blanket exemptions may be used in the future to accelerate development across the country without proper scrutiny.
The groups are currently reviewing the decision and exploring the possibility of an appeal of the Court’s decision. They released the following statements:
James Gunvaldsen Klaassen, lawyer, Ecojustice said:
“We are disappointed with the Court’s decision. It leaves marine ecosystems off the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the communities that depend on them, vulnerable to the dangerous effects of offshore oil drilling.
“We are in a climate emergency. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and all Canadians, must be able to trust that all projects, including fossil fuel projects, will only proceed if they pass a proper assessment and their impacts on the environment are accounted for and mitigated. This decision weakens environmental protections under the Impact Assessment Act and further weakens public trust in the effectiveness of the laws intended to protect our environment.”
Sigrid Kuehnemund, Vice President, Wildlife & Industry, WWF-Canada says:
“It’s discouraging that in the midst of dual climate and biodiversity crises, the Court’s decision fast tracks risky oil and gas exploration in a vast expanse of Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore and eliminates the need for further environmental assessment and public scrutiny. The area now open for exploration includes sites set aside for protecting marine biodiversity, which should be off limits to oil and gas activity, including the Northeast Newfoundland Slope Marine Refuge, which was created to protect slow growing fragile cold-water corals and sponges. The decision undermines Canada’s commitments to marine conservation and climate change targets.”
Gretchen Fitzgerald, National Programs Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation says:
“Despite this devastating judgement, the issues we flagged throughout this deeply flawed process remain and we call on the Minister of Environment to address them and end new offshore oil drilling. Rampant rollout of offshore drilling via this assessment and deregulation is completely inconsistent with Canadian and global climate commitments and threatens biodiversity. Seismic blasting, which precedes drilling, damages habitat for critically endangered whales. Not a single drop of oil has been cleaned up from recent spills in the offshore, and ramping up exploratory drilling will put marine life at even greater risk.”
Jordy Thomson, Senior Marine Coordinator (Ecosystems), Ecology Action Centre, said:
“This decision is a sobering reminder of how far we still have to go in Canada to meaningfully address the biodiversity and climate crises. Strong impact assessment laws are crucial for safeguarding our environment. The court’s ruling upholds a troublingly low standard for regional-scale assessments under the IAA and leaves the offshore ecosystems of Newfoundland and Labrador at risk. Furthermore, at a time when all signs are telling us that we need a just transition away from fossil fuels, this decision takes us in the wrong direction by allowing for accelerated oil and gas exploration.”
Background
The Atlantic waters off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador are one of the most important marine environments in the world and home to a large amount of ocean life from the endangered cod to humpback whales, and fragile deep-sea corals and sponges.
Healthy oceans are critical to marine biodiversity and to coastal communities whose economies and culture rely on fishing and tourism. These waters have sustained these communities for years and are an important part of local Indigenous traditions. Their livelihoods depend on clean, healthy ocean conditions.
Offshore drilling threatens to permanently damage our oceans and coastlines without reducing dependence on oil at a time when the world leaders grapple with reducing the impacts of global warming and transitioning to renewables.
Recent experience shows that spills in the region are commonplace and hard to recover from. For example, in July 2019, an oil spill released 12,000 litres of oil from the Hibernia oil platform, approximately 315 kilometres east-southeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Scientists described it as playing “Russian Roulette” with wildlife.
Offshore exploratory drilling poses an elevated risk of serious oil spills and harmful impacts from seismic testing. On April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon, an exploratory oil drilling rig operating in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded and sank, killing 11 workers and spilling nearly 800 million litres of oil over an 87-day period. Satellite tracking suggested the spill covered an estimated 149,000 square kilometres, the largest spill in the history of marine oil drilling operations.
In June, the federal government joined other G7 leaders in a commitment to phase out new direct government support for international carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy as soon as possible; yet the government continues to limit barriers on expanded domestic production – a move inconsistent with the decisive action needed to keep global warming below the critical 1.5 degree threshold set out in the Paris Agreement.
About Ecojustice
Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.
About World Wildlife Fund Canada
WWF-Canada is committed to equitable and effective conservation actions that restore nature, reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. We draw on scientific analysis and Indigenous guidance to ensure all our efforts connect to a single goal: a future where wildlife, nature and people thrive. For more information visit wwfcastg.wwf.ca.
About Ecology Action Centre
The Ecology Action Centre is a member-based environmental charity in Miꞌkmaꞌki (Nova Scotia) taking leadership on critical issues ranging from biodiversity protection to climate change to environmental justice. EAC strives to catalyze change through policy advocacy, community development and acts as a watch-dog for the environment. It takes a holistic approach to the environment and our economy to create a just and sustainable society.
About Sierra Club Canada Foundation
Sierra Club Canada Foundation empowers people to be leaders in protecting, restoring, and enjoying healthy and safe ecosystems. We are a grassroots organization with a “think globally, act locally” philosophy. Members are encouraged to actively contribute to environmental causes that engage or inspire them, in a capacity that best suits their capabilities.
For media inquiries
Zoryana Cherwick, Communications Specialist | Ecojustice
1-800-926-7744 ext. 277, zcherwick@ecojustice.ca
Tina Knezevic, Communications Specialist | WWF-Canada
416-484-7738, tknezevic@wwfcanada.org
Jordy Thomson, Senior Marine Coordinator (Ecosystems) | Ecology Action Centre
902-877-9382, jordy.thomson@ecologyaction.ca
Gretchen Fitzgerald, National Programs Director | Sierra Club Canada Foundation
902-444-7096, gretchenf@sierraclub.ca
