Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The Carney government is planning to propose changes to make it easier for natural resource projects — including pipelines — to be approved and built faster. Two federal sources say an announcement is planned for later this week that could shift the regulatory framework for all natural resource and federally regulated major projects, with a big focus on energy and natural resources. CBC News is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly about internal conversations. The full details of the plan were not shared with CBC News, and sources warned elements of it are subject to change ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

The leader of British Columbia’s Official Opposition says his party has been talking with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith about her plans to build a pipeline to BC’s northern coast. BC Conservative Leader John Rustad says he has “of course been talking” with Smith about the proposed pipeline, adding he has also been talking with Saskatchewan and “all kinds of people” about the proposal. “We need to fight for Canada,” Rustad said. “That is what we are doing as Conservatives.” Rustad’s comments came after Premier David Eby said the provincial Conservatives have been engaging in what Eby called “secret conversations” with Alberta. However, Rustad told media at the legislature that it’s not a secret and he has “of course” talked with Alberta and Saskatchewan premiers about the pipeline ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canadians, including British Columbians, want a new oil pipeline and Premier David Eby can’t be allowed as one man to block the project. Poilievre says the country can’t wait for complete agreement on the idea, calling it a “basic fact” that a new pipeline is needed. Eby has repeatedly said there’s no point discussing or supporting a pipeline that is being pushed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and others, until there is a proponent for such a project. Poilievre, speaking in Calgary, says that’s a “chicken and egg problem,” because the reason there’s no proponent is there has been inadequate government support ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Federal court quashes Trans Mountain pipeline expansion The Canadian Press /Global News ~~ August 30, 2018 VANCOUVER – The Federal Court of Appeal has quashed Ottawa’s approval of the contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion . The decision means the National Energy Board will have to redo its review of Kinder Morgan Canada’s project. In a written decision, the court says the energy board’s review was so flawed that the federal government could not rely on it as a basis for its decision to approve the expansion. The court also concludes that the federal government failed in its duty to engage in meaningful consultations with First Nations before giving the green light to the project. The federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals  is now firmly caught up in its own inane regulations on pipelines. It is frustrating to watch ideologues enmeshed in regulations that defy common sense, logic and reason. They ...

Honestly, what was the purpose of yesterdays so-called 'emergency meeting' between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ... BC NDP Premier John Horgan ... and Alberta's leader Rachael Notley (also of the NDP persuasion)? I really would like to know, because other than spewing additional carbon emissions into the air, with the jets required to fly to Ottawa, NOT A SINGLE THING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.   Well almost nothing. Hogan is entrenched as he ever was in that he has always said, and continues to basically say, there is no way in hell I'm going to allow the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline to be built . Rachael Notley, ever fearful of Jason Kenny's United Conservative Party (and an up-coming provincial election in Alberta), is fearful that not only is Horgan refusing to allow the pipeline to be built, he is now also threatening to disallow additional shipments of oil, through BC, by rail. And 'Sunny Ways -- Sunny Days' T...

A post on Twitter this afternoon (Sept 10th), from Mike Hudama (@MikeHudama), stated, " BAM! Hundreds out in Vancouver to stand-up against # KinderMorgan # tarsands pipeline. BC says NO " I hate to deflate your big city -- rose-coloured glasses   -- cocooned life Mike, however, BC does not say "No" -- at least not all of BC --- in fact not even the majority. Your are part of the loud a vocal minority of people who by sheer numbers tend to live in the Metro-Vancouver area; ... with hillsides clear-cut to make way for tens of thousands of overpriced homes ... with thousands of acres paved over with concrete for all of your designer stores selling more of the same crap with a different label ... that you drive to in over-priced vehicles with huge engines that can never be driven to capacity (but still burn huge volumes of fossil fuel) ... who live miles, and hours, from work that require huge expensive transit systems to get you around ...