Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The more I think about the Major Projects Office (MPO), the grumpier I get. I’m certainly all aboard with the notion that there are projects in the national interest that we should be trying to get done in an accelerated way. To whatever extent the MPO is able to accomplish that, good. Let’s all blow it a big kiss. Plus, with news emerging of an apparently upcoming announcement of a pipeline from Alberta to the Pacific, you can also start to see the political utility of the MPO. That pipeline is going to be really hard to get built given geographic realities, legal realities, and the political opposition in British Columbia. But Prime Minister Mark Carney signing himself up with a pipeline to the Pacific is going to help him in a big way to dampen unrest in Alberta. So like I said, I get it. But are we not kind of glossing over the fact that it’s also a pretty damning indictment of this country? A country that is working correctly does not need a Major Projects Office. The MPO is a con...

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says New Brunswickers shouldn’t get their hopes up about progress on the Sisson Mine. The proposed tungsten and molybdenum mine north of Fredericton, stalled for more than a decade, was one of the projects the Carney government sent to its Major Projects Office last week ... ... “The Liberals are saying the progress they've made is that they're taking the idea, putting it on a piece of paper and sending it to a new office for even more consideration. “It's time for the federal government to do one thing: get out of the way, grant the permit and let the project go forward”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story

In September, when Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the first five “nation-building” projects the new federal Major Projects Office will be fast-tracking, the list included no pipelines ... ... Even though no pipeline company has expressed interest, no project is yet planned, no funding has been committed, and consultation for the kiboshed ­Northern Gateway showed BC and many Indigenous and other communities were not on board, Alberta Premier ­Danielle Smith has since taken steps to correct the omission. The Alberta government has asked that the federal government pre-emptively approve a pipeline to BC’s north coast in the next round of nation-building mega-projects. Smith perhaps thinks wistfully of Canada’s first ­long-haul crude oil pipeline. The Interprovincial Pipe Line Co. pipeline carried crude oil 1,850 kilometres, from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin. It was built in 150 days ... CLICK HERE for the full commentary

Opinions abound over what Premier Danielle Smith has proposed. Here's a sample of what's been said so far After Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced on Wednesday her government's intention to champion an application to the federal Major Projects Office for a new oil pipeline to the northwest coast of British Columbia, the reaction came fast and, in some cases, furious. Numerous groups lined up with excitement and anticipation to back the premier's plans, while a host of others expressed reservation, doubt, fear and anger. The premier wasted no time making her case directly to the jurisdiction most likely to stand in the way: British Columbia ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the launch of a Major Projects Office dedicated to accelerating nation-building initiatives. Most would agree Canada can and must unlock its vast potential to secure prosperity and safety. But if the serious vulnerabilities outlined here remain unaddressed as Ottawa prepares to push forward with this transformative plan, hidden outcomes that undercut transparency and security could undermine the very purpose of Carney’s effort—to rebuild a stronger nation. The key unresolved matters involve vulnerabilities to foreign interference and the impacts of global money, along with a lack of protections for whistleblowers, while gaps in ethics and transparency persist ... CLICK HERE for the full story