I would be delighted to report that Premier Clark’s recent musings about the proposed Enbridge pipeline were a positive step but unfortunately must report that she misses the point – badly. Her position evidently is that BC is not benefiting sufficiently from the pipeline. Enbridge itself admits that it will
Continue readingAuthor: Rafe Mair
The Common Sense Canadian home page: J’Accuse!…Fish Farmers and Our Governments
In 1894 a French army officer, Alfred Dreyfus, was convicted of treason and sent to Devil’s Island prison. In 1896 a Paris journalist, Emile Zola, printed an article called “J’Accuse!”, which tore apart the case and led eventually to his pardon – which he accepted because he was dying on
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Dix Can Reclaim Control Over Fish, Pipelines and Tankers from Harper
We have a jurisdictional clash here, for under The Constitution Act, federal power over fisheries is paramount but the Provinces have control over “Property and Civil Rights”. There’s no question in my mind that the Province can and should legislate so as to protect all wildlife, which is its clear
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Another Open Letter to MP John Weston on Tankers, Salmon – from his Constituent, Rafe Mair
I’m going to get right down to cases, John. You have disappointed me in that I thought that you might just buck the system and stand up for your province but you have manifestly failed. You said last night that you voted for Bill C-38 because it would enhance “process”
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: No Time for Relief as Regulators, Media Dismiss Enbridge’s Pipedreams
I believe that Enbridge is in trouble on this one and, amongst other things, have risked and lost several millions on their truly laughable ad campaign. But the unhappy news is that this report on Enbridge, far from lessening the Tar Sands threat to BC, has enhanced it. There will
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: From Moran Dam to Enbridge: The Danger of Focusing on Economics Over Environment
Robyn Allan is the former President and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of BC and is an economist by trade. I have enormous respect for Ms. Allan and concur with her conclusion, stated frequently and as recently as July 6 in The Vancouver Sun, that the proposed Enbridge Pipeline will
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: If I was a BC Tory Under Harper, I’d Resign
I have received a lot of feedback on my recent blog on John Weston, MP. Let me say that this was directed to Weston because he is my MP and it applies with equal force to all Tory MPs from British Columbia. I’ve been asked if I would resign were
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Rafe Takes his MP John Weston to Task on Pipelines, Tankers, Fish Habitat
Dr. John Weston, MP: Didn’t we send you to Ottawa to represent us and work on our behalf? Don’t we have the right to expect you to fight our battles in public, not tamely accept huge and permanent damage to your province? John, you support fish farms, support the BC
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Premier Clark Gave Away BC’s Seat at the Table for Enbridge Review
The Joint Review Panel is examining the proposed Enbridge Pipeline and the province of BC, unlike the province of Alberta, will not be at the table as a Government Participant. BC is an intervenor, which permits it to be there and open to questions from the Panel, but not to
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Province Newspaper Pulled Cartoon Under Pressure from Enbridge
A spoof of an Enbridge pipeline video ad by Vancouver Province cartoonist, Dan Murphy. It was pulled from The Province’s website after an enraged call to the Province by Enbridge.
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Province Newspaper Pulled Cartoon Under Pressure from Enbridge
Pasted hereon is one of the funniest clips I have ever seen. It’s a spoof of an Enbridge pipeline video ad by Vancouver Province cartoonist, Dan Murphy. It’s brilliant and was on the Province’s website last Friday. It was pulled a few hours later after an enraged call to the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: BC Conservative MPs Who Abandoned Our Wild Salmon May Find Voters Abandoning Them
Note well the names that follow, for they are British Columbia MPs who voted for the final destruction of the Pacific Salmon, the sea going Rainbow trout (Steelhead), river resident Cutthroat, resident Rainbow trout, river dwelling Dolly Varden and Bull trout: Don Albas, John Duncan, Nina Grewal, Richard Harris, Russ
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Dear Mr. Dix: A Letter From Rafe Mair to BC’s Future Premier
The recent polls show that you and your party have a wide lead over the Liberals and Conservatives – something which gives many of us who care deeply about the environment encouragement, including thousands of us who are not usually supportive of the NDP. It is those people whom I
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Plains Midstream Disaster Should be Wake-Up Call Re: Enbridge Proposal
I had this blood rush to my head the other morning morning when I read the Globe and Mail’s article on the Plains Midstream oil line burst into the Red Dear River. This is the second major spill for Plains Mainstream within the past two years and bids fair to
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: BC Liberals Still Stuck on Sham Private Power – Forcing Hydro to Buy More IPPs
Under BC’s Vladimir Putin, Cop Supreme Rich Coleman, this government is about to ruin several more BC rivers to get more private power. As we sit and digest this, BC Hydro is spilling water over its dams while buying private power at egregiously inflated sums under deals this rotten government
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Clark Skips Western Premiers’ Conference to Avoid Pipeline, Tanker Talk
The refusal of Premier Clark to represent BC at the annual Western Premiers’ Conference is a disgrace! This is a very important conference. It allows Premiers to discuss many important issues. No doubt the Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines and resultant tanker traffic will be on the agenda and Clark
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Former Ministers Fraser, Anderson Should be Listened to on Gutting Fisheries Act…Siddon, Not So Much
The fact that all four former federal fisheries ministers have taken a strong position on an omnibus bill that will not imperil but most surely devastate fisheries, fresh and salt water, across the land, should be taken seriously by the Prime Minister and his loyal lickspittles. The two important voices
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Anton ‘the Inkfish’ Clouds Hydro Losses from Bad IPP Deals
Yesterday morning, listening to Suzanne Anton, one of my co-panellists on Rick Cluff’s Early Edition political panel, avoid the issue of BC Hydro rates rising because of the scandalous sums they are forced to pay private power companies – and government avoidance of the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) – fill
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: Disease Muzzling Bill a New Low for Clark Government Secrecy
The Campbell/Clark Government continues to stumble one step after the other. The latest out of these incompetent fools goes much deeper than just mismanagement of our affairs, although they are masters at that. One of the many evil features of the fish farm industry is their refusal to disclose any
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian home page: BC Media and Government Don’t Want Accountability on Environment, Public Interest
The Campbell/Clark Government continues to stumble one step after the other. The latest out of these incompetent fools goes much deeper than just mismanagement of our affairs, although they are masters at that. One of the many evil features of the fish farm industry is their refusal to disclose any
Continue reading