Despite longstanding concerns that coastal oil drilling could lead to a disaster like the one currently occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, the B.C. Liberals have a long history of working to lift the ban on drilling for oil and gas in B.C.’s sensitive coastal waters.

Here are just some of the statements that the B.C. Liberal government has made in support of coastal oil drilling.

• In their 2003 Throne Speech the B.C. Liberal government made a strong commitment to lift the ban on coastal drilling: “by 2010, your government wants to have an offshore oil and gas industry that is up and running.” (Throne Speech, Feb.11, 2003)

• In 2006 Premier Gordon Campbell told the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong that coastal drilling could happen by 2009: “in two to three years… you will see that opportunities expand.” (Vancouver Sun, Nov. 23, 2006)

• The B.C. Liberals’ 2007 Energy Plan committed the government to “Work with the federal government, communities and First Nations to advance offshore development”. (The BC Energy Plan, 2007)

• After the last federal election, Premier Gordon Campbell renewed calls to lift the moratorium, saying “We’ve got to encourage investment; we’ve got to encourage jobs; we’ve got to reduce unnecessary regulations.” (CHNL, Oct. 18, 2008)

• During estimates last November, Energy Minister Blair Lekstrom confirmed that he was continuing to press the federal government to lift the ban, saying “there's a federal moratorium on this issue, but we do try and move that file forward as we can.” (Hansard, Nov. 19, 2009)

• Today on CKNW when the Energy Minister was asked if the B.C. Liberal government has been lobbying for the ban on offshore oil he replied “We are, and that was our discussions.” (CKNW The Bill Good Show, May 3, 2010)