An anti-coal motion passed by Vancouver City Council last night is raising concerns in the East Kootenays.
The bylaw, which has the backing of Mayor Gregor Robertson, was first introduced on March 13. It seeks "to prohibit the handling, storage and trans-shipment of coal at marine terminals and berths" in Vancouver.
The bylaw has little real bite, however, as there are currently no coal facilities within the City of Vancouver, and Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) facilities fall under federal jurisdiction. A previous effort by the City of Vancouver to exert its jurisdiction over PMV land use failed.
But David Wilks, Conservative MP for Kootenay-Columbia, said the motion sends the wrong message. He said that his region is the second-largest producer of metallurgical coal, a type of coal used to manufacture steel.
"It concerns me that the implication in the future would be that the city of Vancouver would not allow any coal whatsoever be brought into the ports," Wilks told Business in Vancouver yesterday afternoon, prior to speaking at the Vancouver city council meeting.
"The rest of B.C. relies heavily on Vancouver as a port city to allow for those exports to continue."
Several Lower Mainland municipalities and Metro Vancouver have expressed concerns about air quality and coal's contribution to global warming. Fraser Surrey Docks, which has applied to expand their coal handling facilities to accept more thermal coal shipped by rail from the U.S., has been the target of much of the concern.
About 80% of Canada's coal is exported through this province. Coal is currently handled at Neptune Terminals in North Vancouver, Westshore in Delta and Ridley Terminals in Prince Rupert.
