The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has environmentalists in
Nova Scotia urging the Dexter government to extend a moratorium on oil
and gas drilling on the Georges Bank.
The government has to
decide by June whether it plans to extend or review the drilling ban on
the rich fishing grounds, and the thousands of litres of oil spilling
into the Gulf of Mexico is adding weight to those arguing the province
needs to extend the moratorium.
Mark Butler of the Ecology Action
Centre says the massive spill may be a worst case scenario, but it
shows it can happen.
"We thought, obviously, even before this
that the risks were too great," he said. "And this shows just what can
happen and what the consequences can be when things go badly wrong."
The Georges Bank fishery is worth some $200 million for Canadian
fishermen.
Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks says there's no
question he's hearing concerns in light of the U.S. disaster.
"The
local people in my constituency, based upon what they're seeing on
television and what they're saying to their local MLA, they have issues
and concerns," said Estabrooks. "Let's call it like it is: this is an
emotinoal issue and and issue of real consequence to Nova Scotians."
The
Obama administration has extended a moratorium on its share of the
Georges Bank until 2017.