Spurred by a landmark Supreme Court decision last month a number of B.C. First Nations are launching court challenges to stop the Northern Gateway pipeline. Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip told CBC, “when I am standing out on the land … shoulder to shoulder, it’s not going to be for a […]
Comment: A renewed appeal for Keystone
What’s going on with oil and energy these days? Last week, SNL Financial noted that, “Canada’s crude oil producers are looking to markets other than the U.S. to sell increased output amid delays in pipeline expansions, according to the president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. “In terms of growth potential, Keystone is obviously […]
Opposition to pipeline mounts
B.C. Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists), a conservation organization is joining the legal battle against the Harper government’s approval of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline. The group filed a legal challenge this month. The claim is claiming the government does not have the authority to approve the pipeline. “We are strongly of the view that there […]
Comment: Northern Gateway exposes Canada’s fractures
In late June, the federal government announced Enbridge’s $7.9-billion Northern Gateway Pipeline can proceed if it meets the National Energy Board’s 209 conditions. That’s indicative of a multiplicity of concerns around a project that includes a 1,200-kilometre pipeline that would traverse some of the most wild and spectacular terrain in Canada, and the shipping of […]
A public survey suggests the Harper government is out of touch with Canadians
The Federal Finance Department had a public opinion survey done and the results are not something the Harper government can be proud of. The results suggest the Tories key policies are not in sync with what Canadians want. Of particular interest to Alberta’s oil industry would be the results concerning the Northern Gateway pipeline. People […]
Social licence – what does it mean?
One thing about big energy projects is they are bound to attract opposition groups. That is certainly the case for Enbridge’s Northern gateway pipeline. Despite the federal governments approval (pending conditions being met), opposition to the project forges on. In the past investors were able to think of these groups as obstacles that will be […]
Plan to ship from the oil sands to the east coast runs into a snag
Oil-sands opponents rallied in Bretton Woods, N.H., where New England governors held their annual meeting with eastern Canadian premiers. On the table – energy trade and innovation. “We are calling on Northeast leaders to oppose projects that would bring more tar sands oil into the region, and to implement a regional clean fuel standard along […]
Comment: Canada is too small for U.S. to worry about
The headlines are ominous. Canada-U.S. relations have hit a “low ebb” and a “new low.” They are “frayed” and “strained.” Really? A longer-term view suggests recent tensions aren’t all that unusual. Strains over the Keystone XL pipeline, Buy American legislation, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge and a U.S. tax crackdown are typical of the ebb and flow […]
Aluetians preparing for more oil tanker traffic
A decision by the Harper government to give conditional approval to the Northern Gateway pipeline is pressuring residents in the Aleutian Islands to prepare for the possibility of more tanker traffic. Enbridge the company behind the Northern Gateway pipeline must meet more than 200 conditions before it can start. While many of the conditions relate […]
Comment: Make Prince Rupert the terminus
The recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling should give pause to Enbridge to consider that Port of Prince Rupert as a viable alternative of its plan to build two pipelines from Bruderheim, northeast of Edmonton, to Kitimat, B.C. Certainly the ruling strengthens the hand of the many small native bands that fish the tributaries of […]