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 […]
Head of Cenovus not impressed with people “playing politics” over oil sands
Brian Ferguson says it’s political gain not Canada’s best interest that is prompting Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair’s comments about the oil industry. To top it off the CEO of Cenovus Energy says celebrities like Desmond Tutu‘s involvement doesn’t help the debate either. Ferguson made the comments at the 2014 TD Securities Calgary Energy Conference […]
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 […]
Editorial: Harper government made wrong choice on Northern Gateway
It was an expected but devastating decision. The Harper government approved the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline — against the wishes of the majority of Canadians. But here’s the thing: there’s still time to stop the pipeline. Enbridge has stated its commitment to renew conversations with First Nations and other communities in the pathway of the pipeline. It […]
Poll shows how Alberta & B.C. residents feel about Northern Gateway
Support for the pipeline that would run from northern Alberta through B.C. to the west coast is split between the two provinces, but it’s slipping in both. According to a poll by Insights West, two-thirds of Albertans support the pipeline. That’s a drop from three out of four in January 2013. In B.C. Enbridge’s project […]
Northern Gateway approval good for Canada and the world
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and federal Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford have given their conditional approval to Enbridge Pipelines to construct the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Assuming that Enbridge can meet the 209 very stringent conditions, why wouldn’t they? Given recent events in the Middle East and the United State’s continued delays on granting a permit […]
Iraq Could Be the Country That Gets Keystone Approved
The fact that Iraq is crumbling and could be on the verge of civil war might be what it takes to prompt the US government to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. With record oil production in the United States likely to soften any domestic blow volatility on the world scene will have, America will still […]
Help for oil spill cleanup
MIT researchers think they have found a way to separate oil from water after a major spill. Their newly developed membrane could process large quantities of the finely mixed materials back into pure oil and water. In addition to its possible role in cleaning up spills, the new method could also be used for routine […]
Micro refineries could help ease concern in the Bakken
Would having a group of small refineries remove dangerous gas from oil train cargoes and make shipments from North Dakota’s Bakken shale area safer fro transport? Quantum Energy energy made the proposal. The goal is to build five “micro refineries” near railheads already handling Bakken crude. Those refineries would strip propane and other volatile gas […]
Deja vu for Keystone XL
Second time is the charm? TransCanada Corp., the company behind the Keystone XL pipeline, has to satisfy a regulatory hurdle that was already jumped four years ago. The state of South Dakota gave its stamp of approval in 2010 and while the permit is still valid, TransCanada needs to certify the conditions placed on the […]