Thoughts on BC Politics and More

  The office of B.C.’s conflict of interest commissioner Victoria Gray confirmed it has received a complaint from an Ontario watchdog about former B.C. premier John Horgan’s pending directorship of a steelmaking coal company.    The day after Horgan formally resigned as the Langford-Juan de Fuca NDP MLA on March 31, he announced he would join the board of Teck Resources spinoff Elk Valley Resources. Glencore’s hostile takeover attempt has delayed the votes by Teck shareholders on splitting the company and appointing Horgan to the Elk Valley board ... CLICK HERE to read the full story

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney issued the following statement yesterday, following Teck Resources decision to withdraw its application for approval for the Frontier Oil Sands project ... “ Today’s (Feb 23 rd ) announcement by Teck to withdraw its application for approval of the Frontier project, only days before the federal cabinet was set to decide whether to approve or reject it, is a grave disappointment to Albertans. “Alberta has lost the opportunity for 7,000 jobs and Canada has lost the opportunity for $70 billion of dollars in new tax and royalty revenue that could have funded our generous social services over the next four decades. The project would also have produced oil cleaner than half the barrels in North America . “ Teck’s decision is disappointing, but in light of the events of the last few weeks it is not surprising. It is what happens when governments lack the courage to defend the interests of Canadians in the face of a militant minor...

Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks “ Albertans want jobs, not an ‘aid package’ from Ottawa ”, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon stated early this afternoon. “ Teck is not a political gift – it deserves to be approved on its merits. If the federal government takes seriously its commitment to science-driven, evidence-based decision-making, then it will accept the recommendation of the regulatory agencies and approve it. In our view, the federal cabinet’s pending decision on the independent joint review panel’s recommendation to approve Teck Frontier is in no way linked to Alberta’s ask regarding an equalization rebate (or other unrelated requests). “ The project has undergone a rigorous 10-year review, including a recommendation for approval from the independent federal regulator. Teck has played by the rules endorsed by Ottawa – including by the current federal government. To arbitrarily reject the project at the eleventh hour f...

... and the other on the other side of the fence ... and things get shaky. Well you just might fall, and hurt yourself. I suppose you can still, for commentary purposes and to make a point, describe such things in this way notwithstanding this panic driven politically correct world we now live in. Well, that it where our dear Princeling, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, finds himself this day. His political dexterity is being challenged like never before.  You see when you speak out of both side of your mouth over and over again at some point it has got to catch up with you. The circle cannot be squared, really. Take the application by Teck Resources to develop the Frontier Oil Sands mine in Northern Alberta; the Province of Alberta wants it to go ahead, and environmentalists and their ilk want it cancelled forever. And the dear Princeling has spent millions traipsing around the world boasting of his Environmental bona fides -- at the Paris S...

Is a national unity crisis about to descend on to Canada? That could be the result, if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau government proceeds, as it’s beginning to suggest, in torpedoing yet another massive energy project in the province of Alberta.  There have been warning signs that the federal Liberal government could delay, or outright reject, Teck Resources $20 billion oil sands project ( Frontier Oil Sands Mine ), that would employ up to 7,000 Canadians. This, even though the project has cleared every regulatory hurdle, exceeded every environmental requirement, and has the support of all 14 First Nations in the area. And make no mistake, if the government rejects this project, a project with zero local opposition, and massive economic potential, it is sending a clear message – a message that no resource project will be approved in Canada again. For a province like Alberta or Saskatchewan, or even in northern British Columbia, this actually...