In an information release provided by his office today, a clearly frustrated Cullen called on the Senate to quit running out the clock on the bill that was delivered from the House late last fall.
The NDP MP is concerned that if the Senate doesn't bring the bill to the finish line before the current Parliament comes to an end that the proposed legislations future will be in peril.
“We are now only a few short months away from the end of this Parliament and still this bill has not been passed by Senators. Folks in the Northwest have been clear that we need this ban to protect our coast, our fisheries and our way of life here. I will be reminding Senators that this has already been approved by elected MPs and that they cannot keep running out the clock like this. I hope that others will be able to come along and send a clear message that people here want this to happen."
The Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP. who is soon to step aside from Federal politics after fifteen years, was instrumental in bringing forward the then proposed legislation back in 2014.
Cullen helped to guide the proposed ban on oil tankers in the waters of the North Coast through the debates and Order papers to be delivered as Bill C-48.
The Bill features as its guiding focus that of protection for the Ocean of the North Pacific as well as the crucial wildlife habitat, including the Great Bear Rainforest from the risk of any potential oil spills.
You can review his full information release here.
As we outlined last week, the two days of hearings will take place starting tomorrow morning at 8:45 in Prince Rupert, with a full day of speakers lined up for the Highliner Plaza hotel conference room.
Tuesday, the Senate committee takes the testimony sessions to Terrace.
In addition to Mr. Cullen, a number of First Nations representatives and local officials are set to provide their thoughts on the issue for the Senate panel, among some of those set to testify are MLA Jennifer Rice, Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain, Des Nobels, Joy Thorkelson and Ken Veldman of the Port of Prince Rupert.
Mr. Brain may recount some of Prince Rupert City Council's past efforts on the issues of the Enbridge pipeline project and in support of an oil tanker ban on the North Coast.
You can follow the travels of the Senate's Transport and Communications Committee through their time in the Northwest by way of their website,
An audio feed from both the Highliner Inn and the Best Western will be available here.
The sessions are also open to the public.
Some background on the process of the creation of the Bill and some of the notes from those who are opposed to it can be found below:
April 2019 -- Highliner Plaza Hotel to host Senate Hearings on Oil Tanker moratorium in Prince Rupert/Terrace
March 2019 -- Lax Kw'alaams to test BC government jurisdiction over energy projects
December 2018 -- Tanker moratorium plans to navigate Senate Committee process in 2019
September 2018 -- New mandate letter for Fisheries Minister puts focus on jobs, stock protection and environment
September 2018 -- Making note of current Trans Mountain turmoil, Eagle Spirit's Calvin Helin once again points the compass towards the North Coast
June 2018 -- Eagle Spirit Energy hails proposed pipeline to Grassy Point as "cleanest energy project on the planet"
May 2018 -- Lax Kw'alaams plans held the spotlight from national radio exposure
May 2018 -- Resource development issues in First Nations communities make for lively two hours for Cross Country Check UP
May 2018 -- North Coast Tanker Ban Clears House of Commons, focus now shifts to Senate
May 2018 -- Amid Trans Mountain woes ... Eagle Spirit plans get time in the spotlight
March 2018 -- Prince Rupert Environmental Society joins petition drive in support of Federal Tanker Ban
March 2018 -- Lax Kw'alaams Band files suit in Supreme Court of British Columbia against Federal Government's tanker moratorium
March 2018 -- A week of mixed messages on resources from Lax Kw'alaams
February 2018 -- Eagle Spirit interests consider Hyder, Alaska as back up plan for oil shipment terminal
January 2018 -- Supporters of Eagle Spirit Energy oil pipeline plans look to raise money for tanker ban challenge
November 2017 -- LNG, pipelines and resource development issues make for themes of Financial Post article on Northwest BC
September 2017 -- Hereditary Chiefs of Lax Kw'alaams speak out again on Oil Tanker moratorium and Great Bear Rainforest
May 2017 -- Eagle Spirit Energy takes issue with Liberal government's Oil Tanker moratorium
May 2017 -- Federal Government moves forward with North Coast/Haida Gwaii oil tanker ban
November 2016 -- Cautious optimism the theme for many First Nations on Federal Ocean's Plan
November 2016 -- Federal Government sets sail with marine protection program for West Coast Waters
June 2016 -- Northwest environmental groups hail Prince Rupert Coucil's support for oil tanker ban
June 2016 -- Council to move forward with letters on Enbridge and oil tanker ban
November 2015 -- David Black looks to oil by rail concept for his planned Kitimat Clean refinery project
November 2015 -- Fisheries Minister's mandate letter notes a number of North Coast issues
September 2015 -- Justin Trudeau courts British Columbia voters with proposed ban on tankers for North Coast
April 2015 -- MP's shipping amendment goes down to defeat in House of Commons vote
April 2015 -- Nathan Cullen's amendment to the Canadian Shipping Act goes to House of Commons vote today
March 2015 -- Nathan Cullen seeks Prince Rupert Council's Support for Bill C-628
October 2014 -- Nathan Cullen opens up "Take Back Our Coast" Northwest tour in Prince Rupert
September 2014 -- Nathan Cullen to propose bill for ban on Oil Tankers on North Coast; value added jobs in energy sector
For more items of interest on the Federal political scene see our House of Commons archive page here, or our expanded listings of notes out of Ottawa from our political blog D'Arcy McGee.
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