Back in 2004, Wilburforce Foundation stipulated that the purpose of funding the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) was to protect the region “from oil and gas development, through an advocacy campaign that focuses on grizzly bears and critical wildlife habitat,” tax returns say. Since then, the Wilburforce foundation has granted more than US$25 million to environmental […]
Comment: Seizing an opportunity
Prior to a recent tour of British Columbia, I thought people in the province were opposed to shipping the product of Canada’s oil sands through their province. But I saw firsthand that the reality is far more complex. The natural inclination for many Albertans is to tell the people of BC about the economic benefits […]
Legal battle grows against Northern Gateway pipeline
Normally when we hear about the Northern Gateway pipeline one aspect of the project that comes up is it will create jobs. So it might surprise you to know the country’s largest private sector union is joining the growing list of groups going to court to stop the pipeline. “The Northern Gateway pipeline brings sky-high […]
Going to court over Northern Gateway
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: 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 […]
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 […]
First Nations rights vs national interest
The federal government may have to get more involved in oil and gas development in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling giving title to aboriginals in B.C. That’s the result of a new study done by the Fraser Institute. The court’s unanimous landmark ruling last month brought an end to a thirty year long […]
First Nations companies competitive in battle for oil sands jobs
When it comes to landing contracts in Alberta’s oil sands, First Nations groups are no longer the beneficiaries of easy deals. Chief financial officer of Fort McKay Group of Companies, Marguerite MacDonald says, “Four years ago, we didn’t have to bid on a lot of the work that we now bid for. It is no […]
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 […]