(VICTORIA) –  Dogwood Initiative volunteers got up early this morning and headed to the site of the proposed Mackenzie overpass to provide commuters with a different side of federal Conservative candidate Troy DeSouza.

While DeSouza’s team waved and displayed pro-overpass signs, No Tankers volunteers smiled and held signs pointing out that DeSouza does not support a ban on oil tankers on B.C.’s north coast.

“Transportation is a critical issue,” said Eric Swanson, Dogwood’s No Tankers Director. “But there are other things at stake in this election, namely our entire coast.”

The federal NDP, Liberals, and Greens support a legislated ban on north coast oil tankers. The Conservatives are the only party to withhold support for a ban, despite polling that shows 80% of British Columbians are in favour, including more than 70% of Conservative voters.

DeSouza has indicated that he’ll be at the site of the proposed interchange from 7 to 8 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday leading up the election.
“We’ll be there too,” said Swanson. “We’re not there to be confrontational. We’re there to give drivers some additional information on an issue that is important to British Columbians. This is our coast, and we need to elect people who will defend it from oil spills.”

No Tankers volunteers will also be in attendance outside of NDP leader Jack Layton’s event tonight at Esquimalt High School, which starts at 6 pm.