Landowners launch Site C Dam court challenge, First Nations next
On Monday, a group of landowners and farmers from BC’s Peace River Valley launched the first of seven legal challenges that threaten to derail the government’s $9 Billion planned Site…
Damien Gillis
The untold story behind the central coast herring fishery fiasco
Herring gillnet boats outside Kitasu Bay just before giving up on this year’s fishery (Tavish Campbell) This is the untold story behind one of the most heated standoffs over fish…
Heiltsuk celebrate as herring gillnet boats leave central coast empty
Video by Diana Chan “We did it!” declared Heiltsuk Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett to a jubilant crowd at the fisheries office near Bella Bella this afternoon, as the herring gillnet…
DFO clings to bad science, refuses to close herring fishery in Area 7
Despite harsh criticism from scientists and First Nations of DFO’s flawed forecasting methods for the health of herring stocks, the department’s Director General, Pacific Region Sue Farlinger acknowledged today that…
Progress on herring standoff but Area 7 gillnet opening remains contentious issue; talks continue today
A long-awaited face-to-face meeting between Heiltsuk Nation leaders and senior DFO management finally went ahead yesterday at the central coast fisheries office currently being occupied by Heiltsuk members. DFO Regional…
Heiltsuk Nation occupies DFO office in face of expected herring fishery
Heiltsuk Nation members confront DFO officers at Denny Island coast guard station (Pacific Wild) Tensions continue to escalate on the waters of the Great Bear Rainforest over a highly controversial…
‘By any means necessary’: Heiltsuk vow to stop herring gillnet fishery
The Heiltsuk Nation is vowing to stop DFO’s opening of a gillnet fishery amid threatened herring stocks in Area 7 by “any means necessary”, after DFO refused to listen to…
First Nation taking herring concerns to Jimmy Pattison’s Canfisco
Commercial seine boat in Spiller Channel (Pacific Wild) Bella Bella, BC A delegation of Heiltsuk First Nations and their supporters will be taking the central coast community’s concerns over a…
DFO uses stealth to open herring fishery despite First Nations ban
Heiltsuk Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt in 2012 (Damien Gillis) The Department of Fisheries and Oceans angered members of the Heiltsuk First Nation on BC’s central coast by opening a commercial…
Last day for public comments on Woodfibre LNG proposal
Rendering of proposed Woodfibre LNG project near Squamish, BC Citizens have until Midnight Monday to submit their comments to the current phase of environmental assessment into the controversial Woodfibre LNG…
Shocking critique from Site C Panel Chair should have govt pulling plug
Site C Joint Review Panel, with Chair Harry Swain seated in middle (250 News) In a highly unorthodox move for a person in his position, the chair of the Joint…
Landmark Treaty 8 lawsuit challenges Site C Dam, LNG
A sweeping lawsuit filed this week by the Blueberry River First Nations from northeast BC threatens the province’s resource agenda – including the proposed Site C Dam and shale gas…
Harper slashes federal taxes for BC LNG industry
Stephen Harper announces the Government’s intent to support the creation of BC’s LNG industry in Surrey, BC (PMO) Prime Minister Stephen Harper jumped on the BC LNG ship this week…
Asian LNG prices take record 60% plunge from last year
Asian spot market prices for liquefied natural gas (LNG) have plunged by a single year record of 61.7% since February 2014, according to Platts JKM (Japan/Korea Marker) – a leading…
Federal Court denies BC Hydro’s request to hurry up Site C challenge
Peace Valley ranchers Ken and Arlene Boon are plaintiffs in several Site C Dam challenges (Damien Gillis) A federal court judge has denied BC Hydro’s motion to rush a legal…
Ease radioactive waste dumping restrictions, say North Dakota shale oil producers
Trucking costs for radioactive waste in North Dakota’s Bakken oil field are too high, says the industry Read this eye-opening Jan. 28 Reuters story on the push from North Dakota…
LNG, Fracking and BC’s Energy Future: Nanaimo event
BG Group’s Methane Lydon Volney tanker (Photo: BG Group) The Common Sense Canadian’s Damien Gillis and retired KPMG partner and chemistry Ph.D Eoin Finn will be in Nanaimo Wednesday night…
LNG shocker: Squamish rejects pipeline builder’s drilling permit
Squamish council rejects Fortis BC application for test drilling (Instagram/ Dan Prisk) In a surprising show of municipal political power – even in a region that has demonstrated strong misgivings…
2015: Year of reckoning for Canada’s fossil fuel economy
On Monday, as Canadians got back to work following the holidays, the price for crude oil dipped below $50/barrel for the first time since 2009, offering a glimpse of the…