Environmentalists celebrate surrender of offshore oil permits in B.C. [Video]

Environmental groups that have been fighting for the end of offshore oil and gas development in B.C. are celebrating victory after the federal government announced the last remaining permits for Pacific Ocean exploration had voluntarily been surrendered.

Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Wednesday that Chevron, the last corporation to hold the permits, had voluntarily relinquished them as of Feb. 9.

Jay Ritchlin, David Suzuki Foundation Director General of B.C., said he welcomed the news.

“I’ve been working on this for 20  years … Offshore oil and gas drilling doesn’t have a place in the future.”

Permits date back to 1960s

Originally issued in the late ’60s and early ’70s, permits were grandfathered in through policy reforms that were created to better protect delicate marine ecosystems.

In July 2022, Ecojustice Canada, on behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation and World Wildlife Fund, filed an application in federal court aiming to extinguish all …