Gulf of St. Lawrence oil drilling concerns coalition

A coalition of groups from the five eastern provinces met on P.E.I. Saturday to discuss strategies to stop drilling in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The Saint Lawrence Coalition represents several smaller environmental groups in the region, and represents about 500 members. They're worried about the proposed Old Harry drilling project between Cape Breton and Newfoundland. They say an oil spill could devastate natural resources in the Gulf.

"The Gulf of St. Lawrence is a unique place. It's not like the open Atlantic," said coalition spokesman Sylvain Archambault.

"It's a semi-enclosed sea with a counter-clockwise current. If anything would happen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence the oil spill would be stuck inside the gulf and travel around. Cold water, there's ice, so that complicates things. It's a worry because we are not prepared."

Archambault spent last week on P.E.I. holding meetings, drumming up support and answering questions from the public.

The Old Harry project is now undergoing environmental assessment by the Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board. A decision is expected in the next year.