Article content

And the first victim of the Trans Mountain pipeline work stoppage is . . . oil spill protection on the B.C. coast.

A $150-million program to improve spill response has been halted because the company involved can no longer be sure of toll revenues from pipeline shippers.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Don Braid: B.C. gets an early taste of no-pipeline pain Back to video

This follows last week’s Federal Court of Appeal ruling and subsequent halt of Trans Mountain construction.

That’s the first coastal domino to fall, and it’s unfortunate.

Last month in Nanaimo, I spoke to a worker who was proud and happy to be working on better spill protection.

He explained that his company, Western Canada Marine Response Corp., was ramping up spending of $150 million.

There would be 43 new response vessels and six bases on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. A $10-million Island headquarters was to be built in Nanaimo.

On the day we talked, seven response vessels were docked in the harbour. They included a couple of small modules and several sizable ships. All bore a big “Spill Response” logo with a Maple Leaf.