The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) filed two complaints today with regards to revelations that the RCMP and CSIS have surveilled citizens, First Nations and environmental groups openly challenging the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. The complaint with respect to CSIS was filed with the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC) – the
Continue readingTag: Energy and Resources
The Common Sense Canadian: Melting sea ice a help and hindrance to Arctic drilling
Read this story by Bobby Magill of Climate Central on the double-edged sword that melting sea ice poses for tapping into the massive estimated reserves of oil and gas in the Arctic. Sea ice melting partly because of human-caused climate change could open previously inaccessible Arctic Ocean waters to expanded oil drilling, but the
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Regulator buried report on TransCanada pipeline explosion
A 2014 gas pipeline explosion near Winnipeg, Maniotoba Read this February 4 story from CBC.ca on a 2011 report of a TransCanada gas pipeline explosion in northern Alberta which the National Energy Board kept quiet for several years. A CBC News investigation has unearthed a critical report that the federal
Continue readingThe 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: Shale gas, LNG exports and the elephant in the room
I listened intermittently to the Public Proceedings of the Yukon Legislature’s “Select Committee Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing” held in Whitehorse on January 31 and February 1. The presentations focussed mainly on the minutia of drilling, hydraulic fracturing, water consumption, environmental impacts, regulations, water contamination and so
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Fracking tied to birth defects: Colorado study
Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of all infant deaths in the US A new study, published last week in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives, draws a correlation between birth defects and maternal exposures to natural gas. After examining 124,842 births between 1996 and 2009 in rural Colorado, the study found a higher
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Cortes community forestry offers alternative to industrial logging
In a historic announcement last October, the BC government granted the Klahoose First Nation and the Cortes Island Community Forest Co-Op a Community Forest tenure on 3,700 acres of so-called “Crown” or public lands on Cortes—a deal 20 years in the making. Filmmaker and new Common Sense Canadian contributor Daniel Pierce shares
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: David Suzuki: Citizens asked to help with Fukushima radiation research
An Internet search turns up an astounding number of pages about radiation from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdown that followed an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. But it’s difficult to find credible information. One reason is that government monitoring of radiation and its effects on fish stocks
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: Alberta families abandon homes over bitumen fumes
Fumes from these bitumen storage tanks are allegedly driving Alberta families from their homes. Read this Jan. 26th Vancouver Observer story by Mychaylo Prystupa on the extreme effects of bitumen fumes from Baytex Energy’s storage tanks on families near Peace River Alberta. Northwest Alberta grain farmer Alain Labrecque recalls the first winter in 2011 when
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Burnaby mayor calls BC “banana republic” over coal port review
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan pulled no punches at a recent council meeting, criticizing the undemocratic process being led by Port Metro Vancouver to drive coal port expansion. Corrigan calls out the port authority and controversial Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin, tapped to conduct environmental assessment work for the proposer Fraser Surrey Docks coal
Continue readingThe Common Sense Canadian: Manitoba government floats northern oil, LNG port for Churchill
The port of Churchill (John Woods) Read this Jan. 18 story from The Winnipeg Free Press on a new government report envisioning the transformation of the northern port of Churchill, Manitoba into an export hub for Alberta bitumen and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Shipping oil by rail across northern Manitoba could be
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: Geoscientist’s report undermines BC Government’s LNG figures
photo: Tina Lovgreen / BCIT Commons Read this Jan. 22 story from The Globe and Mail’s Mark Hume on a new report from esteemed geoscientist David Hughes which suggests the Clark Government and national energy regulator’s LNG figures are more based on hot air than natural gas. The Common Sense Canadian covered Hughes’ report in
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
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