The evidence presented to Moore was picked up on the shores of Ambleside beach, not far from the minister’s constituency office in Port Moody, where activists convened later that day to deliver a petition signed by over 15,000 people demanding that marine services be reinstated.
The demonstration was held in response to recent public statements by the minister suggesting that taking six hours to begin containment of an oil spill is “very impressive” and a “world-class” response. Protesters were also angered by his recent insistence that the closure of the Kitsilano coast guard base did not play a role in what B.C. Premier Christy Clark called an unacceptably slow response.
“This is on the beaches where our friends and family play and live. Would you like to touch it?” one protester asked Moore. “I’m fine. Thanks” replied the minister.
North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton watched as the activists piled the evidence on the hijacked podium.
“We’ll leave this for you to clean up,” an activist wearing a white suit, gloves, and a face mask asked Moore as he walked away. “Would you like to borrow some gloves? Is it funny? you were just laughing, is it funny to you?”
“We have a great announcement for the people of North Vancouver that is going to improve quality of life, clean the environment and make the north shore safer!” declared Moore as activists attempted to present him with an oil-covered rock, which he refused to accept.
“People are sick, people have nosebleeds, and there was no response,” called out one activist.
“Will the coast guard base be reopened?” Ricochet asked Moore. “We have one of the best coast guards in the world,” he responded. “We have more coast guard resources now than we have ever had in British Columbia, and 80 per cent of the spill was cleaned up within 36 hours.”
Ricochet asked Fred Moxey, retired commander of the closed Kitsilano base, what he thought of Moore’s claim that the coast guard had more resources available than ever before.
“In the Vancouver area that’s totally incorrect. There is nothing in Vancouver as far as the coast guard goes. They removed that. They have turned their backs on search and rescue and the environment.”
