LANDLOCKED STATES RIGHT OF ACCESS TO AND FROM THE SEA
Mike Priaro, P. Eng.
First uploaded November 16, 2018
ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, LANDLOCKED STATES ARE GIVEN A RIGHT OF ACCESS TO AND FROM THE SEA, WITHOUT TAXATION THROUGH TRANSIT STATES.
Also called the Law of the Sea treaty, it is the international agreement that defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.
As of June 2016, 167 countries, including Canada, and the European Union had joined in the Convention.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec, are violating the spirit and intent of Part X, RIGHT OF ACCESS OF LAND-LOCKED STATES TO AND FROM THE SEA AND FREEDOM OF TRANSIT, of this agreement by impeding Alberta's access to the sea on the east coast and by Trudeau's blocking access to the west coast with his oil tanker ban.
If Alberta were a sovereign nation, international law would permit Energy East and Eagle Spirit to go through—unimpeded and untaxed!
Note that the proposed Trans Mountain expansion will not provide significant access to new markets other than the U.S. where essentially all of Canada’s crude exports already go at untenable discounts.
Mike Priaro, P. Eng.
Calgary
403-281-2156
