A potential federal bill with big ramifications for the Lakeland has been rejected by the Senate committee. Bill C-48, or officially the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, was rejected by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications in a six to six vote late Wednesday evening. The bill bans tankers carrying over 12,500 metric tonnes of crude from unloading on British Columbia’s northern coast.
The legislation, as well as Bill C-69, was opposed by groups like the Coalition of Canadian Municipalities for Energy Action, which featured Bonnyville Mayor Gene Sobolewski as a chair. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney had also given the thumbs-down to the bill when he testified with senators in Ottawa earlier in May
The bill is not officially dead. It will still have to be voted on in the Senate despite the recommendation to reject.