The fossil fuel wars in British Columbia and Canada

[Oscar]

The fossil fuel wars in British Columbia and Canada

[ http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/roger-a ... and-canada ]

By Roger Annis | December 23, 2013

The fossil fuel industry offensive in British Columbia and across Canada is proceeding relentlessly. This is a report from some of the key fronts of the fossil fuel wars.

Tar Sands

On December 16, Kinder Morgan company made its official application [ http://www.vancouversun.com/business/bu ... story.html ] to the National Energy Board for approval to build a $5.4-billion tar sands pipeline from Alberta to Vancouver harbour. The new line will use the path of its existing Trans Mountain Pipeline for part of the route, but it will diverge from that significantly [ http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/ ... story.html ] in places, including in the final leg of the line into metropolitan Vancouver.

The population of British Columbia has risen four times since the original Trans Mountain pipeline was built in the 1950s. The new line will cross busy urban areas, seven provincial parks and 13 park reserves, including 500 rivers and streams. It will require expanded bulk-oil storage on the Vancouver harbourfront and increased berths for the estimated 35 tankers per month that will transport the line's diluted bitumen to overseas markets.

Meanwhile, on December 19, the National Energy Board (NEB) made its much-anticipated ruling on Enbridge Inc's proposed Northern Gateway tar sands line. This follows two years of study and public hearings by the agency. Surprise, the NEB recommends to the federal government that the project should proceed, [ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... 066062.ece ] subject to a series of “conditions” it has laid out.

(See map of the proposed route.)

[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... 064370.ece ]

The Vancouver Observer published some initial reactions in BC to the NEB decision. (Page is unavailable . . . Ed.)

Two very informative articles on the Alberta tar sands appeared last week in Postmedia and The Globe and Mail. Both detail the rising tensions between the industry and two First Nations in northern Alberta that have obtained perceived economic benefits but are being relentlessly squeezed by the ever-expanding ambitions of the industry. Those are the Fort McKay and Fort Chipewyan First Nations.

Here is a map
[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... m=15968340 ]

and here are the two articles:

“The dispute the entire oil industry is watching,” by Kelly Cryderman, The Globe and Mail, December 14 2013

[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... 968340.ece ]

“Finding balance as worlds collide,” by Marty Klinkenberg, Postmedia News, December 14, 2013.

[ http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Find ... story.html ]

(This article is part five of a five-part series published by the Edmonton Journal in Nov-Dec 2013.)

[ http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business ... index.html ]

The online publication Vancouver Observer is launching a one-year publishing project on the tar sands and is appealing for financial support. [ http://www.vancouverobserver.com/enviro ... r-campaign ] It's the news outlet that broke the story last month of intense, federal government spying on the environmental movement conducted by CSIS (Canada's FBI) and the RCMP. [ http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politi ... ealed-fois ]

Natural Gas Fracking

A similar squeeze on First Nations is taking place in northern British Columbia over natural gas, albeit at an earlier stage. The lure of funding from natural gas fracking and the vast expansion plans coming from proposals for a liquefied natural gas industry on the northern coast are squeezing the First Nations in the fracking zone and all along the proposed pipeline routes. The proposed gas pipeline routes are proximate to Northern Gateway.

The message that I have received in several conversations with First Nations in the northeast gas zones is, ‘The environmental movement needs to become more active and outspoken. We need help. We're under siege and we don't have the power by ourselves to stop these fossil fuel projects. We need alternatives to a fossil fuel-based economy so that we have meaningful employment for young people and revenues that can fund education, health care and other social services that we need.

The fossil fuel wars in British Columbia and Canada

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[Oscar]

BC and Alberta one step closer to moving Alberta's oil sands to Asian markets

[ http://www.mining.com/bc-and-alberta-on ... ets-85927/ ]

Ana Komnenic | November 5, 2013

The premiers of BC and Alberta surprised the public on Tuesday after striking an agreement on energy resources.

Alberta Premier Alison Redford and BC Premier Christy Clark had initially cancelled Tuesday's meeting after discussions hit a wall Monday night. But with Alberta accepting five conditions from BC, the two released a joint statement on Tuesday.

The agreement provides a framework for moving energy resources to new markets.
[ http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/11/a ... rkets.html ]

"Agreement on B.C.'s 5 conditions is a necessary first step before any proposals can be considered for approval," said Clark. "It is the way we do business in B.C. and it works. By working together with Alberta through these principles we can grow our economies, and strengthen Canada's economy overall."

Though not the official debate topic, the agreement is critical to Enbridge's pipeline proposal between the two provinces. The Northern Gateway pipeline would carry crude from Alberta's oil sands to BC, where it could then make the journey to Asian markets. Clark rejected the plan earlier this year, saying she wasn't convinced of the benefits it would bring to BC.

In 2012, Clark set out five conditions:

[ http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/11/a ... rkets.html ]

1. Successful completion of the formal environmental review processes.

2. World-leading marine oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems for British Columbia.

3. World-leading practices for land spill prevention, response and recovery systems for British Columbia.

4. Legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights must be addressed and First Nations be provided with the opportunities to benefit from these projects.

5. British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of proposed heavy oil projects that reflect the risk borne by the province.

As part of Tuesday's agreement, BC will also endorse Redford's Canadian Energy Strategy.

MORE:

[ http://www.mining.com/bc-and-alberta-on ... ets-85927/ ]