Photo: animaljusticeparty.org Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press CALGARY – Alberta’s decision to cull its wild horse population is at odds with the province’s western heritage, say critics who want the plan cancelled immediately. One licence has already been issued by Alberta Environment to capture up to 200 feral horses in
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The Common Sense Canadian: Alberta fracking licenses soar by 650%, documents reveal
by Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press EDMONTON – Alberta New Democrats say newly released documents show fracking has become an unregulated free-for-all in the province with no regard for the impact on groundwater or on people’s health. NDP Leader Brian Mason presented information Tuesday provided under freedom-of-information laws that shows
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Salmon farms net more tax dollars from Harper Govt to grow exports
CAMPBELL RIVER, Canada – The federal government is giving $21,000 to British Columbia salmon farmers to research best practices around the world, more than a year after a $26-million public inquiry made a litany of recommendations. Conservative MP John Duncan says the funds will allow the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: State Dept. report rumoured to bode well for Keystone XL pipeline
by Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press WASHINGTON D.C., United States – Canadian officials say they’re encouraged by what they’re hearing about a long-awaited report on the environmental impact of the Keystone XL pipeline that could be released imminently by the U.S. State Department. Those sources in Washington and Ottawa say they’ve
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Thomas Berger leads watershed lawsuit v. Yukon development plan
Video by Damien Gillis; story by Dene Moore, The Canadian Press VANCOUVER – A coalition of First Nations and conservation groups is suing the Yukon government over its decision to open a vast region of the Canadian North to mining and industrial development. The group says the decision ignores a land-use
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Athabasca Chipewyan Nation pulls out of govt Oil Sands program
ACFN Chief Allan Adam on tour recently with Neil Young (Canadian Press) FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – The First Nation that was the main focus of Neil Young’s recent concert tour about Alberta’s oilsands has withdrawn from a government environmental panel. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation announced Friday that it is
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Gas prices heat up as homes, shale gas wells face record chill
by Jonathan Fahey, The Associated Press NEW YORK – The frigid winter of 2014 is setting the price of natural gas on fire. Friday, the price in the futures market soared past $5 per 1,000 cubic feet, up 9 per cent for the day to the highest level in three and
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: NEB shuts down Kinder Morgan pipeline hearing website for “maintenance”
Artist’s rendering of proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline and tanker expansion VANCOUVER – An oil pipeline critic and New Democratic MP from British Columbia says plans by the National Energy Board to perform maintenance on its website this weekend are “ridiculous.” Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart recently said his community office would
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Gitga’at First Nation challenges Enbridge panel ruling in court
Members of the Gitga’at First Nation lead a rally in Prince Rupert in 2012 (Damien Gillis) by Dene Moore, The Canadian Press VANCOUVER – The Gitga’at First Nation in British Columbia has filed a court challenge to the federal review panel recommendation in favour of the Northern Gateway pipeline, bringing to
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Halliburton manager destroys Gulf spill evidence, gets probation
by Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS – A former Halliburton manager was sentenced Tuesday to one year of probation for destroying evidence in the aftermath of BP’s massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Anthony Badalamenti, of Katy, Texas, had faced a maximum of one year
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: “I stand with Neil”: Prominent Canadians backing Young on Tar Sands
Author Michael Ondaatje, actress Neve Campbell and rocker Gord Downie are all standing with Neil Young by The Canadian Press More than 20 notable Canadians have penned a letter to support musician Neil Young following his concert tour to raise money for a First Nation fighting oilsands expansion in northern
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Alberta doctors avoid linking health issues to Tar Sands: report
by Bob Weber, The Canadian Press EDMONTON – Opposition politicians are raising concerns over a report done for Alberta’s energy regulator that suggests doctors are reluctant to draw links between health problems and the energy industry. “We do have a culture in this province which actively diminishes healthy and important debate about
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Langley council mulls joining Kinder Morgan pipeline hearing
Oil pipeline construction in rural Alberta LANGLEY, B.C. – Langley council is mulling over whether to directly take part in regulatory hearings into the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion that has drawn considerable opposition. Council will debate a motion on Monday to seek intervenor status into the upcoming hearings by
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: First Nation blockades water intake construction over salmon impacts
Cayoose Creek, where construction of a municipal water intake may be harming salmon habitat (Jim Upton) LILLOOET, B.C. – Members of a First Nation in Lillooet, B.C., have set up a blockade near that Fraser River district to protest work they believe is destroying fish habitat on disputed land. Sekw’el’was Chief Michelle
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Oil lobby tries to tar Neil Young
CALGARY – The president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says rock legend Neil Young’s anti-oilsands statements are irresponsible and do a disservice to the aboriginals he’s trying to help. Dave Collyer made his remarks ahead of Young’s fundraising concert in Winnipeg. The Friday concert will be the second
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: New federal study: Oilsands bitumen sinks in water
2011 Rainbow Pipeline diluted bitumen leak in Alberta (Rogu Collecti/Greenpeace) VANCOUVER – A new federal government study has concluded that diluted bitumen — the product that would be transported by the Northern Gateway pipeline — sinks in seawater when battered by waves and mixed with sediments. However, when free of
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: New study shows Canadian industrialization in graphic detail
A visualization of industrial impacts across Canada as of 2010 (Global Forest Watch) A national study suggests that Alberta has disturbed more natural landscape than any other province. The analysis by Global Forest Watch adds that Wild Rose Country also has two of the three areas in Canada where the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Researchers tackle fracking radiation
Wastewater from fracking can contain high levels of radiation (photo: J Henry Fair) by Ramit Plushnick-Masti, The Associated Press HOUSTON – Researchers believe they have found an unlikely way to decrease the radioactivity of some hydraulic fracturing wastewater: Mix it with the hazardous drainage from mining operations. The wastewater is created
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Canada failing to meet even domestic climate targets; Huge spike expected post-2020
by Bruce Cheadle, The Canadian Press OTTAWA – Never mind those international targets, the federal government appears to be having trouble meeting even its own internal operational goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. An internal PowerPoint presentation prepared by Public Works and Government Services Canada asks each federal department to
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Rain blamed for yet another CN derailment – this time near Vancouver
Yet another derailment for CN, this time involving coal, near Vancouver. BURNABY, B.C. – A CN Rail spokeswoman has confirmed heavy rainfall led to a train derailment in the Vancouver area Saturday. Emily Hamer says the increased amount of rain caused a beaver dam to wash out, spilling large amounts
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