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By cityprole, on April 19, 2013, at 12:17 pm China’s largest bank in deal to finance Kitimat refinery ICBC will also provide engineering and construction help to build refinery CBC News Posted: Apr 18, 2013 6:08 PM PT Last Updated: Apr 18, 2013 9:38 PM PT
Fascinating, isn’t it, how the BC Liberals keep on sneaking around the public all the while acting as if they are ‘horrified’ at the thought of a pipeline, yet they so obviously are up to their guilty necks in this refinery business…
David Black, a truly worthy successor to the Black name in Canada, although supposedly not related to Conrad, late of the (Read more…) prison system..David Black is Canada’s small-time answer to Rupert Murdoch, took over every community BC paper he could find and dumbed them down to the point of torpidity… I wondered about his agenda at the time…now we all know.
And involving China? Well that’s just a natural, after . . . → Read More: Left Over: Here, KIti, Kiti, Kiti……..
By Song of the Watermelon, on March 19, 2013, at 4:35 am If Alison Redford gets to define Canadian patriotism, then I don’t want to be patriotic.
The Alberta premier yesterday accused federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair of “a fundamental betrayal of Canada’s long-term economic interests” after the latter took a trip to DC in what is being widely interpreted as an effort to convince the Americans not to approve the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta.
Other Conservatives at the federal level have adopted the same rhetoric. Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver — of “foreign-funded radicals” fame — implied that the Opposition leader was unfit to govern, stating, “Governing means standing (Read more…)
By David Climenhaga, on March 4, 2013, at 11:02 am Everybody should be as happy about Alberta’s “Bitumen Gusher” as these two guys, your blogger and former Finance Minister Ron Liepert. Below: AUPE’s chart of the price differential between Alberta bitumen and West Texas Intermediate crude. Below that: The Alberta government’s chart showing its natural resource revenue projections to 2022, prepared for last month’s Economic Summit. Obviously there’s no cause for panic.
Have things really changed all that much for Alberta since then-energy minister Ron Liepert predicted in early 2012 that the province was on the verge of a “Bitumen Gusher” of unprecedented magnitude?
One just hates to endorse the
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Are Alberta’s cannily incompetent Conservatives quietly awaiting a ‘Bitumen Gusher’?
By Song of the Watermelon, on February 26, 2013, at 10:44 pm Dear President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry:
As a concerned Canadian, I am writing to urge you to reject TransCanada’s application to build the Keystone XL pipeline for purposes of transporting dirty oil from Alberta’s tar sands to refineries in the United States.
I assure you that not all Canadians are quite as eager to export climate-busting bitumen as our federal government seems to be. Many of us recognize that the high energy demands required to exploit this unconventional resource give it a dangerously large carbon footprint. For this reason, we consistently oppose similar projects, such as (Read more…)
By The Mound of Sound, on February 25, 2013, at 2:07 pm When it comes to unconventional fossil fuels, the majority of Canadian politicians, federal and provincial, fall into two categories – idiots or featherbedders.
The Tyee has this eye-opener from geologist David Hughes, a gas and oil specialist for Natural Resources Canada for 32-years.
Unconventional fossil fuels all share a host of cruel and limiting traits says Hughes. They offer dramatically fewer energy returns; they consume extreme and endless flows of capital; they provide difficult or volatile rates of supply overtime and have “large environmental impacts in their extraction.”
Most important, bitumen, shale oil and shale gas, by definition, are
. . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: The Hard Truth About Unconventional Fossil Fuel
By The Mound of Sound, on February 24, 2013, at 1:54 pm I don’t think even Sideshow Steve Harper believes the fable of Canada’s energy superpowerdom any more. My guess is that he knows full well that the federal government is riding a tiger and Steve doesn’t want to be the prime minister who has to step off. I suspect bitumen is a problem Steve would much rather kick down the road.
One thing that’s finally sinking in is that bitumen, like other high-carbon fossil fuels, is living on borrowed time. The business of business is making money and business is finally coming to realize there are a lot
. . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: Riding the Petro-Tiger
By Guest Blog, on February 21, 2013, at 11:59 am By Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (Press Release) | Feb. 21, 2013: OTTAWA — A failure to carefully regulate the Canadian bitumen industry is putting Canada on a dangerous economic and environmental trajectory, says a new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and the Polaris Institute. The study’s original, integrated analysis READ MORE
By Richard Hughes, on February 20, 2013, at 5:57 pm Richard Hughes-Political Blogger
The more the politicians of all stripes and flavours proclaim the harmless benefits of fracking, producing and shipping bitumen to wherever there is a market the more that you know they are full of it. Bullshit slides smoother than bitumen!
Check this out!
CBC coverage (video) and an audio follow up by reporter Briar Stewart.
By Richard Hughes, on February 18, 2013, at 6:41 pm Richard Hughes-Political Blogger
Lately it seems that the politics of ‘Climate Change’ is like the classic children’s story ‘Alice in Wonderland. The roles have changed as if we are guests at the ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.’
Instead of the Americans dragging their feet it is in fact right here in Canada where our governments have rolled over for the Oil and Gas Industry Lobbyists!
In BC and Alberta we have divorced any notion of reducing our ecological footprint and shouldering our share of the responsibilities to the planet and future generations.
Our Prime Minister Stephen Harper is happily gutting
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Tens of Thousands Rally to Urge Obama to Move “Forward on Climate”
By Jay Cables, on February 13, 2013, at 1:31 pm This Sunday, February 17, one of the largest rallies ever held in the US on climate-change will take place in front of the White House. The Sierra Club, 350.org, together with over a hundred partners have helped organize the DC event. Key goals include decisive action on carbon pollution, increased commitment to the phasing out of fossil fuels in preference for clean renewable energy and the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline project.
The timing of the DC rally is critical. The call to reject the Keystone XL pipeline will be front and center and Sunday’s rally will deliver
. . . → Read More: drive-by planet: DC rally on climate-change Feb 17: threats posed by tar sands and Keystone XL pipeline
By David Climenhaga, on January 26, 2013, at 1:39 am Alberta Premier Alison Redford beseeches the Almighty for higher petroleum prices as Wildrose Finance Critic Rob Anderson looks on. Actual Alberta politicians may not be exactly as illustrated. Below: Social democratic men of God J.S. Woodsworth (Methodist), Tommy Douglas (Baptist) and Stanley Knowles (United).
So what’s with the Redford Government’s receding horizon on tough decisions, d’ya think?
You bet they’re going to make some tough decisions. That’s for sure! The premier said so in her pretentiously titled State of the Province Address Thursday night. Again and again. So just you wait.
Heck, the finance minister was saying it for
. . . → Read More: Alberta Diary: Postponing the Day of Reckoning, Alberta-style
By Richard Hughes, on December 10, 2012, at 7:01 pm Richard Hughes- Political Blogger
Selling bitumen fast, while it’s still hot, is the prime minister’s myopic motivation, says Andrew Nikoforuk in his report featured in the Tyee.
We have been sold down the river by a combination of neo con corporate greed and the unrelenting far right evangelical so called Christianity.
How these greedy bastards can claim to embrace Jesus and Christianity or any other religion is beyond me. They disdain everything that approaches religious behaviour or values.
“I don’t think Canadians want us to sell out important Canadian values — our belief in democracy, freedom, human rights. They don’t want
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Chairman Harper’s Economic Desperation Deal With China
By EclecticLip, on November 28, 2012, at 1:33 pm Alas, the Green Party didn’t pick any seats up in the Nov 26 Canadian federal by-elections. While their strong showings probably count as a real moral victory, I imagine at this stage they’d prefer amoral, real victories.  As it turns out, Parliament’s composition is unchanged, “while my green heart gently weeps”. Despite donating to [...] . . . → Read More: Eclectic Lip: Green byelection blues
By thescottross.blogspot.com, on November 19, 2012, at 11:59 pm Many British Columbians fear the possible environmental damage of the Northern Gateway pipeline running through their wilderness, yet paradoxically they and all other Canadians not only take pleasure from the largest oil spill in Canadian history, but … . . . → Read More: The Scott Ross: Canadians Enjoy Largest Oil Spill In History
By Richard Hughes, on October 30, 2012, at 2:21 am Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger
Fracking is the latest profit making bonanza for the already too rich and powerful oil and gas corporations and they seem to have our politicians by the throat.
Kicking out the BC Liberals is the answer to many of our social and economic ills, but continuing with the dangerous and environmentally damaging process of fracking is a deal with the devil that we cannot afford on so many levels.
You can try to dress it up but when push comes to shove ‘Fracking’ is BC’s ‘Tar Sands’ with a great many of the same environmentally destructive downsides.
Energy Minister-Rich
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Both the BC NDP and the BC Liberal’s Support Shale Gas Fracking!
By cityprole, on October 25, 2012, at 11:40 am Oil companies going unpunished for thousands of North Sea spills
I am including a link to this article in the Guardian online of Oct 25, 2012, because it is absolutely critical for anyone who is undecided re the true cost of that nasty pipeline across our beautiful Province, and linking to our semi-pristine coastline to read and understand this, and what it means for BC…we need to take this very seriously, and for those throughout Canada who feel that we are being obstructive (yes we can!) or ungrateful (gimme a break!) here is just a small part of the
. . . → Read More: Left Over: So, Alberta, You Think BC’s Gonna Dance?
By cityprole, on September 15, 2012, at 10:54 am Is it just me, or is Alberta getting more and more insane all the time? Must be all those bitumen fumes..where else would a teacher be fired for doing his job? Alberta is guilty of a whole bunch of disgusting things in regards to the environment and ignoring the health of citizens in the quest for the almighty petro-dollar, but who knew they had legislated dumbing-down the potential workforce..genius, really, for when they sell out completely to foreign interests and Albertans face a bleak future as low paid oil serfs…easier when the population is too ignorant to protest..
. . . → Read More: Left Over: RIP Premier Lougheed….and Education in Alberta
By harpervalley, on September 2, 2012, at 12:19 pm Indigenous Pipe Line (Twinned)
Filed under: Political Humour Tagged: Aboriginal, bitumen, chanupa, First Nations, indian, indigenous, native, oil sands, peace pipe, peacepipe, pipe line, tar, twinned
By Richard Hughes, on August 22, 2012, at 1:37 pm Richard Hughes Political Blogger
With a headline like that I decided to steal it along with the rest of Ian Reid’s latest post on his excellent and revealing blog, ‘The Real Story.”
Ian tells of yet another bitumen proposal, that of an amazing new air borne pipeline project, valued at $100 billion that will flow bitumen in the air all the way from the tar sands of Alberta to the island free channels off Kitimat.
Ian, are you making this up? Um, Can you really do that? Ian, can you?
He brings his wealth of knowledge , experience and humour to the
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Bitumen, Bitumen Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off!
By Richard Hughes, on August 19, 2012, at 12:57 am Cowichan Conversations contributor Kevin Logan wrote this piece to put Newspaper Mogul David Black’s bid to promote a bitumen refinery into perspective.
Kevin Logan’s career has been diverse, ranging from small business to NGOs through finance and government.
“I have a plan!.”
David Black, an international Newspaper Magnate and BC Liberal insider, rolled out his 13 billion dollar pipe dream today claiming to be a “quiet environmentalist” who incidentally buys his ink by the barrel and owns a 150 newspapers. If that nugget was not outrageous enough he carries on to explain how his coastal refinery will overcome climate
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: Is Alberta’s Dirty Dilbit Actually Black’s Gold Or Is It Just Fools Gold?
By Richard Hughes, on August 17, 2012, at 10:03 pm John Horgan BC NDP Energy Critic
The BC NDP have been opposed to the Enbridge Proposal from the get-go. Newspaper Mogul David Black’s proposal changes little as Horgan made clear to every media outlet around. Here is John Horgan’s position, succinctly put.
By Richard Hughes, on August 17, 2012, at 6:09 am Richard Hughes Political Blogger
Controversy surrounding the proposed Enbridge Northern Pipeline just got a goosing from Victoria based media tycoon David Black. The history of transporting bitumen has a very poor track record.
The Alberta’s Tar Sands product presents a classic case of whatever you do next is wrong. Bitumen is a dastardly and destructive substance and shipping it anywhere has been shown to be fraught with dowsides. If, and I say if, the tarsands product is to be shipped it should only be done after it has been refined and that should be done in Alberta.
Even if that is done
. . . → Read More: Cowichan Conversations: David Black Media Tycoon Is Promoting A Bitumen Refinery in Kitimat
By Richard Hughes, on August 15, 2012, at 10:45 pm Richard Hughes Political Blogger
Are the winds of change blowing? PM Harper says science will determine the outcome not politics. Uh huh, sure Steve. This after gutting the funding for research
BC Point man James Moore PC MP is uttering sentiments of concern, the Conservatives are losing this on the ground and our Premier Christy “It’s all about the cash” Clark is becoming more of an asset to the BC Liberals on holidays than when she is on the job.
Bait and Switch may now move forward. How about Prince Rupert rather than Kitimat, perhaps trains could haul the stuff.
By The Mound of Sound, on August 1, 2012, at 12:56 am Ottawa, Alberta and the rest of Canada want to ram Enbridge down British Columbia’s throat as operator of the environmental calamity they call the Northern Gateway pipeline but the Americans aren’t so indifferent.
Following Enbridge’s latest pipeline failure, in Wisconsin, the U.S. transportation secretary has ruled Enbridge won’t be allowed to restart the pipeline until it can prove it’s safe. In other words, what Enbridge says about the safety of that pipeline means diddly squat.
“Accidents like the one in Wisconsin are absolutely unacceptable,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement Tuesday. “I will . . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: Enbridge Shut Out Again
By The Mound of Sound, on July 30, 2012, at 1:29 pm An editorial in The New York Times, “Canada’s Oil, the World’s Carbon” stresses that the climate change impacts of Athabasca bitumen trafficking must not be ignored.
“…the climate question must be addressed, if only to give a full accounting of the range of consequences of developing the tar sands, an effort in which the United States will be complicit if it allows the pipeline. That includes the effect of destroying 740,000 acres of boreal forest (a vital sink for greenhouse gases); the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted in extracting the oil from the tar sands
. . . → Read More: The Disaffected Lib: The New York Times – America’s Tar Sands Complicity
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