September 12, 2008
Cullen Calls for All-Party Agreement on Coalbed Methane Opposition
September 12, 2008 (Smithers, BC) – Incumbent Member of Parliament Nathan Cullen is calling on all five federal candidates in the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley to oppose Shell’s coalbed methane (CBM) drilling in the Sacred Headwaters.
“There will obviously be many issues that we will disagree on over the course of this campaign, but it is my sincere hope that we can all stand together on this most important issue,” said Cullen.
Cullen was in Aiyansh Wednesday at a Nisga’a CBM forum, where he spoke out against the controversial drilling at the shared headwaters of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers.
Cullen highlighted the fact that coalbed methane has never been developed in a wild salmon watershed, and that its dense footprint of wells and pipelines will likely harm wildlife such as grizzly bears and caribou.
“It is unthinkable that Shell could be allowed to experiment with this sort of risky drilling at the source of three of our greatest wild salmon rivers,” said Cullen. “Here in the Northwest, our rivers, our salmon, and our wildlife are among our most important economic and cultural assets. Coalbed methane drilling poses a very real risk to guide-outfitters, fishermen and tourism operators.”
Cullen likens the grassroots opposition to coalbed methane to the successful movement to stop fish farms on the north coast:
“With the fish farm issue, there were First Nations, commercial fishermen, anglers and communities all standing together. We’re seeing a similar coalition of interests around the issue of coalbed methane,” he commented. “I believe that all downstream communities deserve to be engaged in the important debate over this issue.”
A poll Cullen conducted in the spring showed opponents of Shell’s proposed drilling outnumber supporters two-to-one.
“The more people learn about coalbed methane drilling, the less they want it in the Northwest,” Cullen said.
Contact:
Campaign to re-elect Nathan Cullen: (250) 847-9293