Is your family worth C$1.15 million?
Norway offers a striking contrast to British Columbia. In 2026, the two jurisdictions have almost identical populations — about 5.6 million people — yet Norway has built a sovereign wealth…
Natural Resources
The natural resource curse
On average, economies of resource-rich countries do not outperform countries lacking those natural materials. According to Jeffrey Frankel, Professor of Capital Formation and Growth at Harvard’s Kennedy School, this results…
“Why are we building houses if we don’t have enough water?”—A big lesson from a little town
Oakley, Utah, is small but appealing. Nestled in the mountains beside the Weber River less than an hour’s drive east of Salt Lake City, the town offers an attractive bargain…
Privatizing public wealth
Years ago, corporations decided they should pay less for BC’s natural resources. The companies funded pressure groups, slick online websites, and social media shills. All amplified public messaging in support…
Time to start paying Mother Nature back
I’ve long thought that the sensible approach to the global economy is obvious, if complex. We calculate what the Earth can sustainably provide in terms of natural resources, then we…
Extractivism – BC as third world economy
In British Columbia’s natural resource sector, public revenues decreased while quantities and values produced increased. First published in 2014. Still relevant in 2019: Not long ago, British Columbia thrived on…
Rising production, declining gas revenue
Sale of crown petroleum and natural gas rights in the first nine month of 2019 totalled $12 million. The average for the first nine months of the preceding 20 years…
Omission of truth becomes a lie
In real terms, the BC government’s natural resource revenues in 2018 were 37% of the level in 2001, despite material increases in output.
Premier Horgan, where were you on Mount Polley?
Compare the passage of 4 years without a charge against Mount Polley operators to the quick response when a rude 19-year-old released an adult-sized blow-up doll over West Vancouver’s Ambleside…
When regulators don’t believe in regulation
When a new government takes office, there is often a significant change at senior levels of the civil service and among OIC political appointments. One person still employed by the…
LNG facilities: siting, safety, regulation
An August 19 fire and gas leak at the Tilbury Island LNG facility reminds of the fuel’s inherent dangers. Luckily, Delta’s Firehall No. 7 is only 1,500 meters from the…
Socialized losses, privatized gains
Postmedia’s Michael Smyth came to Gordon Wilson’s defense after the LNG advocate was relieved of vague but costly responsibilities for gas industry promotion. But, did the political commentator make even…
Huge cost, high risk, low government revenue, few permanent jobs, better choices
When thinking about the Petronas LNG project (PNW LNG), we should consider which supporting claims for it were believable. For example, proponents have routinely misrepresented the value and benefits of…
Behind the ostensible government
An item previously published, with minor updates: I studied political science at university long, long ago. In those days, I was naive and idealistic and a member of the Liberal…
Gas sales in new fiscal year begin on a sour note
Stephen Hume Premier Clark and friends are organizing demonstrations, trying to keep the LNG fantasy alive with voters, at least for another year. BC Liberals won’t admit economic reality but…
Gas sales in new fiscal year begin on a sour note
Premier Clark and friends are organizing demonstrations, trying to keep the LNG fantasy alive with voters, at least for another year.BC Liberals won't admit economic reality but producers have already…
Gas sales in new fiscal year begin on a sour note
Stephen HumePremier Clark and friends are organizing demonstrations, trying to keep the LNG fantasy alive with voters, at least for another year.BC Liberals won't admit economic reality but producers have…
What’s good for the BC Liberals may not be good for BC Hydro
An article by Dermod Travis of Integrity BC. First published February 15, 2016, repeated here with permission.One of the last things anyone would ever imagine the B.C. government doing is…
What’s good for the BC Liberals may not be good for BC Hydro
An article by Dermod Travis of Integrity BC. First published February 15, 2016, repeated here with permission. One of the last things anyone would ever imagine the B.C. government doing…
What’s good for the BC Liberals may not be good for BC Hydro
An article by Dermod Travis of Integrity BC. First published February 15, 2016, repeated here with permission.One of the last things anyone would ever imagine the B.C. government doing is…