Bob McClelland spotted walking down a staircase in Victoria, circa November 1985. (Ancient Vancouver Sun photo.) Mr. McClelland didn’t know it yet, but forgiveness for his sins was at hand. Below: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. He’ll be forgiven soon too. Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a province
Continue readingTag: bitumen
Where will all the scientists go?
In a new book about the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal, The Oil Man and the Sea, author Arno Kopecky relates his attempt to interview Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) scientist Kenneth Lee. Dr. Lee was the executive director of the DFO-sponsored Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research,
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: "Unequivocal"
Leaving no doubt; clear; unambiguous. The latest IPCC report concludes that mankind’s influence in driving climate change is beyond doubt, clear and unambiguous. Anthropogenic global warming is here, it’s here to stay and, unless we want a better future enough to change our ways, it’s going to get a hell
Continue readingLeft Over: The Emperor Prorogues, Then comes to BC with his Rogues….
Harper cabinet readies major B.C. pipelines push B.C. First Nations leaders to meet with key federal officials Sept. 23 in Vancouver By Chris Hall, national affairs editor, CBC News Posted: Sep 12, 2013 6:03 PM PT Last Updated: Sep 13, 2013 7:21 AM PT We are ready for whatever BS
Continue readingLeft Over: I’ll See Your Bombs, and Raise You Climate Change….
Harper offers Obama climate plan to win Keystone approval Sources say PM willing to accept emissions reduction targets proposed by the U.S. By Chris Hall, National Editor, CBC News Posted: Sep 6, 2013 2:15 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 6, 2013 10:08 PM ET First he pontificates (through his
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: That Cold Lake Bitumen Spill – It Just Keeps Rollin’ Along
The 10-week old Cold Lake bitumen spill is expected to stop – basically whenever it stops itself. The company, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., says there’s nothing it can do to staunch the leak other than collect whatever bitumen it can from the surface and haul out the dead animals. On
Continue readingLeft Over: Here, KIti, Kiti, Kiti……..
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
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Of Petrostates and Patriotism
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
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Are Alberta’s cannily incompetent Conservatives quietly awaiting a ‘Bitumen Gusher’?
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,
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: An Open Letter to Barack Obama and John Kerry
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
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Hard Truth About Unconventional Fossil Fuel
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
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Riding the Petro-Tiger
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
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Alberta Tar Sands Dependence Could Hurt Canadian Economy: Report
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.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Families Abandon Homes near Alberta Bitumen Facility
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
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Tens of Thousands Rally to Urge Obama to Move “Forward on Climate”
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
Continue readingdrive-by planet: DC rally on climate-change Feb 17: threats posed by tar sands and Keystone XL pipeline
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
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Postponing the Day of Reckoning, Alberta-style
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
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Chairman Harper’s Economic Desperation Deal With China
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
Continue readingEclectic Lip: Green byelection blues
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 […]
The Scott Ross: Canadians Enjoy Largest Oil Spill In History
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 …
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