Lorne Doerkson to Take a Different Stance from Poilievre on Oil Tanker Ban

B.C. premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has signalled that he may take a different approach from federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the oil tanker ban along British Columbia’s northern coast.

Poilievre recently called on the Carney government in the House of Commons to lift the ban. However, Doerkson has given a lukewarm response to the proposal, saying his main focus is the Pacific Link pipeline project, which has been declared a project of national interest by the federal government.

The proposed pipeline would run from Alberta to Delta, B.C., and is expected to create significant employment opportunities across the province.

The oil tanker ban was introduced in 2019 under former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government to protect the marine environment from oil spills along B.C.’s northern coast. Prime Minister Mark Carney also reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the ban under an agreement with the previous B.C. government.