Offshore Drilling in Canada
Offshore drilling is a mining process in which a platform is used to drill into deposits under the ocean floor, compared to collecting deposits inland in traditional oil drilling. In 1959, on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, the first offshore drilling exploration began. Fast forward to 2020 and Canada is ranked fourth as one of the world’s largest petroleum producers, creating 5.23 million barrels per day.
Offshore drilling projects aren’t just expensive to run, they also have more environmental risks compared to land-based mining. Large mining platforms are located far out at sea. If a spill or leak does occur, it is extremely difficult to collect and extract from the water and clean off of impacted ocean organisms. oil based pollutants are a major risk to marine ecosystems since they are highly toxic and can result in ocean dead zones, lacking oxygen and marine life.
Along with the risk of pollutants, seismic activity resulting from sea exploration and mining is harmful to marine mammals. Such as whales and dolphins which rely on echolocation to communicate. The noise pollution generated can cause hearing loss, disrupt diving, feeding, mating, and migration patterns.
All mining activities contribute to climate change because of the heavy release of carbon dioxide emissions during the production and exportation processes. In addition to furthering the use of harmful fossil fuels. Carbon emissions can have serious health effects on humans, such as increasing the chance of allergies, asthma, cancer, and contracting infectious diseases such as west Nile virus and Lyme disease.
Although petroleum is a significant part of Canada’s economy, we cannot ignore the unsustainable impact oil has on our environment. It is our responsibility as caretakers of our planet to educate and advocate for changes by pushing for sustainable management of Canadian natural resources.
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Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Mining Watch Canada is a non-profit working to help advocate changes in public policy, regulations and mining practices to ensure the health of humans, communities and the environment! Mining Watch has 4 main focuses: to protect water from mining pollution, to help advocate for mining regulations to protect the rights of environment, workers, and indigenous communities, to help update and fix the currently outdated mining laws, and most importantly put the health of ecosystems and people first by creating an environmentally sustainable extraction plan or stop the project all together. Find them here.
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Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is a nationwide charity focused on the protection of land, ocean, and freshwater, and helping manage parks and protected areas. CPAWS has played a leading role in protecting over half a million square kilometres and have led many successful projects to protect Canada’s ecosystems. They have worked specifically helping advocate for marine protected areas, environmental protection standards, helping create nature-based climate solutions and educating the public on climate change. Find them here.
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Oceans North works to protect marine environments and ecosystems for future generations. The organization has worked to help protect valuable seabed ecosystems from ocean exploration and mining projects. Oceans North asked the Government of Canada to follow the examples of many other countries and experts in their advocacy for a moratorium on deep seabed mining in international waters. Find them here.
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Started in 1974, West Coast Environmental Law is a non-profit made up of environmental lawyers and strategists, protecting the environment by working with communities, non-governmental organizations, and First Nations governments. They have transformed the legal landscape by holding up indigenous laws, strengthening environmental laws, and providing legal assistance to communities fighting to protect ecosystems. WCEL has worked with Oceans North to help advocate for legislative changes related to marine protected areas and offshore mining practices. Find them here.