Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The National Energy Board (NEB) today delivered its Reconsideration Report to the Government of Canada, with an overall recommendation that the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (Project) is in the Canadian public interest and should be approved. Upon hearing this news, North Okanagan – Shuswap MP Mel Arnold was quick to respond, stating … “ The NEB has ruled that this project is in the 'public interest'. Let's get some shovels in the ground ”. And getting those shovels quickly in the ground will indeed be important, according to Ft. St. John City Councillor Trevor Bolin. “ The construction season in Alberta and central BC is short enough without further delays from the Federal Government.  This pipeline is in the best interest of Canadians, and more specifically, Western Canadians .” He went on to say, “ British Columbia and Alberta working together for a project that will benefit the West is paramount.  The time for enhanced, sustainable pr...

Liberals won’t appeal Trans Mountain ruling, name former justice to oversee new Indigenous consultations ~~ Amanda Connolly   ~~   Global News   ~~   October 3, 2018 The Liberals will not appeal a court ruling that found they failed to adequately consult with Indigenous stakeholders on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.   Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi made the announcement Wednesday morning in Ottawa. Speaking to reporters, Sohi said the government will redo consultations with all 117 Indigenous groups affected by the project.   Former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci has also been appointed to oversee these new consultations. In August, a Federal Court ruling hit the brakes on the Trans Mountain expansion project, which will triple the capacity of an existing pipeline to carry crude oil to the BC coast.   That ruling flagged two major issues with the project: first, that the initial approval by the Natio...

... or maybe I should have titled today's post, “ So … whose interests will the BC NDP government of John Horgan be representing ?” According to a government media release today, the government of BC has … filed its registration as an intervener to ensure that British Columbians’ interests are represented in the National Energy Board’s (NEB) reconsideration of aspects of its recommendation report on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project . The release goes on to say that according to George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, “ BC is concerned that the 22-week time-frame is insufficient to accommodate a thorough review , appropriate cross-examination and the time needed by Indigenous groups to fully participate ,” said Heyman. Get ready for it … be warned in advance … because you may explode upon hearing why the government feels the 22-week time-frame is not enough.  It’s because the Horgan government feels the ne...

January 29 th , 2018 Suncor announced that the Fort Hills project was continuing its steady ramp up of production following the safe start-up of secondary extraction two days earlier Fort Hills, which is located approximately 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, saw an average of 7,900 people at peak construction. Now in operation, Fort Hills employs approximately 1,400 direct employees, with the vast majority have been hired from Alberta.   Foothills cogeneration facility has a total capacity of 180 megawatts, and generates electricity from what would otherwise be waste heat “… you don’t need to choose between the environment and the economy. We can and we must move forward on both ” ~~ Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy Today in Alberta, Suncor marked another new milestone with the grand opening of the project.  Attending alongside of Suncor officials were Premier Rachel Notley and Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, loc...

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Premier Rachel Notley delivered the following remarks today in a live address about the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project: My fellow Albertans, we face a serious situation. I’m here before you to tell you how we are defending you, your resources, your jobs and the future of our province and country. For generations, Alberta has been forced to sell our resources to one customer – the United States – and to sell those resources at a major discount. The oil and gas in our ground is owned by each and every Albertan. When we are forced to sell those resources for less than they are worth, the whole country pays a price. Fewer jobs. Over-stressed hospitals. Crowded classrooms. And for almost as long, successive governments in Ottawa and Edmonton failed to change this. Despite having more coastline than any country on the planet, Canada as a whole remains landlocked. Three...