We need an energy transition that doesn’t leave the workers behind
All leaders today must deal with a major economic reality: the urgency of shifting to a low-carbon future. The length of this policy column can hardly do justice to the range of what must done, but three items come to mind as priorities. Investing in Renewable Energy Production The No. 1 emitter of GHGs […]
Eastern promises: Canada should look to Asia to shift away from a sole export market, say experts
With a rapidly dropping oil price, experts suggest looking across the Pacific Ocean to divest its traditional, north-south oil trading route, but the delay in pipeline construction inhibits Canada’s oil and natural gas reaching B.C.’s coast. A backlog of oil is the result of low pipeline capacity, creating a lot of supply and driving down […]
Liberal actions to blame for energy paralysis
Last Wednesday, the Speaker of the House of Commons granted an emergency debate on the Canadian energy crisis, requested by Conservatives because it is an emergency for all of Canada. The massive price discount on Canadian oil and gas negatively impacts all of Canada and disproportionately hurts Alberta. Canada’s oil and gas sector has already […]
‘Eagle Spirit’ pipeline gaining momentum as other projects stonewalled, says proponent
As Alberta faces low oil prices and other pipeline projects struggle to be built, the president of a company proposing a multi-billion-dollar Indigenous-led pipeline project that includes plans for a western “energy corridor” says federal politicians should be paying more attention to his idea. While a number of factors have to fall into place for […]
The climate emergency requires extraordinary measures
As any observer of the energy scene can confirm, renewable energy is providing an increasingly large portion of our energy needs. Photovoltaic solar panels are cheaper than coal. Geothermal and wind are competitive with other fossil fuels. We have the technology to phase out the internal combustion engine and to massively reduce the energy wasted […]
British Columbia’s two LNG projects may be a first step in regaining trust among investors
Canada’s economy cannot prosper without a growing and healthy resource sector. For years, the oil and gas industry has struggled with prices in North America well below those elsewhere in the world. The announcement that two liquified natural gas (LNG) projects exporting natural gas to Asia are going ahead potentially is a turning point for […]
Nuclear industry eyes more federal support of ‘small modular reactors,’ as advocates push for Ottawa to hit pause
The Canadian nuclear industry is looking for more federal government involvement in supporting the development of a new generation of reactors, after Natural Resources Canada put out a “roadmap” report earlier this month, spelling out steps different players in the sector could take. The small modular reactor (SMR) roadmap was published on Nov. 7, and […]
Energy Policy Briefing
Feds must halt Site C dam construction before Indigenous cultural sites lost forever
The Site C dam under construction in northern British Columbia is a completely unnecessary project that will overload the B.C. power grid, killing demand for less ecologically destructive and more socially just energy projects proposed by First Nations. Yet the B.C. government is going ahead anyway, despite the enormous significance of the Peace River valley, where […]
Demand for action on climate change shatters Scheer’s hopes in Quebec
MONTREAL—Tens of thousands of Quebecers took to the streets on Nov. 10 to call for more decisive action on climate change. In Montreal alone, 50,000 took part in the demonstration. In the short space of a week, more than 150,000 signed a pledge that commits them to reduce their carbon footprints but also demands more […]
