Building pipelines means building prosperity
Canada’s oil resources are an important part of our future prosperity. For this prosperity to be realized, oil must get to market. There are several ways for that to happen. However, the safest and most efficient is by pipeline. Opportunists, seeking to take political advantage off of the misfortune of local residents, may point to […]
Carbon-free by 2050? Not an easy feat
An U.S. organization that advocates for governments to transition to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050 may be correct that Canada can make the switch, but critics say there are many challenges to meet that timeline in terms of costs, politics, and policy. The Solutions Project, which is a non-profit organization out of Stanford University, proposes that […]
Politics this morning: Sajjan to discuss Africa trip
It’s Monday, Aug. 15. Here are a few things you need to know today: Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan will hold a teleconference starting at 1 p.m. ET to discuss his recent trip to Africa, which was billed as a “fact-finding trip to inform Canada’s re-engagement in peace support operations.” Journalists are asked to call 613-996-2353 […]
Harper’s hand-picked National Energy Board panel risks public confidence in pipeline approval process
In the dying days of his government, Stephen Harper went to considerable lengths to ensure that the National Energy Board panel—tasked with vetting the controversial Energy East pipeline—be made up of commissioners hand-picked by the Conservatives, regardless of the election outcome. In the months prior to the election call, Harper reappointed to various boards and […]
Trudeau failing to gain traction on softwood lumber pact, say opposition MPs for logging districts
The Liberal government is being accused of squandering an historic opportunity to leverage the close relationship between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Barack Obama to secure a new agreement on softwood lumber with the United States by opposition MPs who represent ridings with a strong forestry sector. Conservative MP Todd Doherty (Cariboo-Prince George, B.C.) said the Liberals have failed to make any […]
Opposition to Energy East growing in Canada and U.S.: it’s time for a moratorium on oil tankers on East Coast
TORONTO—Oil spills don’t care about borders. That’s why there is growing concern about the proposed Energy East pipeline bringing a massive increase in tanker traffic along the Canadian and U.S. East Coast. If built, Energy East would triple tanker traffic in areas like the Bay of Fundy—and with it the chance of a devastating oil […]
WWF looks to sun, wind as cleaner energy sources in Nunavut
The World Wildlife Fund’s Canadian division is looking at opportunities for displacing a good chunk of the diesel used for electricity in Nunavut with wind, solar, and battery power. Diesel is used to generate virtually all the electricity used in Nunavut. It has proven to be a reliable source of energy in the harsh northern […]
Environment Minister McKenna tabling report on state of Canadian parks by end of 2016
Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna says an updated report on the state of Canadian parks and historic sites will be tabled in Parliament by the end of the year, the first since 2011, and this, despite the Canadian National Parks Act requiring Parks Canada to release a report every two years. In an […]
New government has yet to recognize LNG’s potential and advantage
PARLIAMENT HILL—How often have I read that Canada has one of the worst records for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita in the world? Environmentalists are always happy to remind us of this. The 2011 data from the World Bank puts Canada in 16th place with 14.1 metric tons (Mt) of GHGs emitted per Canadian […]
Canada should restrict access to northern water corridors
The Canadian government should consider placing restrictions on the number of corridors allowed for access to the Arctic waters in order to reduce two important risks: loss of life and environmental impact. The risk of a marine accident in the Arctic is not a theoretical exercise. In August 1996, the Hanseatic cruise ship ran aground […]
