Enbridge and Kinder Morgan Lobbying Hard
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- Published on Thursday, 12 May 2016 17:45
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How the Fort McMurray Climate Conversation Went Down in Flames
Connecting extreme weather events with climate change isn't exactly a new thing.
After Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of New York and New Jersey in 2012, Bloomberg published a front page spread proclaiming, “It’s Global Warming, Stupid.”
For years, major storms, droughts, floods and fires have been connected to climate change. The climate angle was even fair game during last summer’s wildfires in western Canada.
So how did the climate conversation around the still-raging Fort McMurray wildfire that destroyed thousands of homes become so befuddling-ly messed up? Read more.
Enbridge and Kinder Morgan Lobby Hard As Feds Change Tune on Pipelines
It’s been a month of mostly good news for Enbridge and Kinder Morgan, the two companies pushing to build major pipeline projects from Alberta’s oilsands to British Columbia’s coast.
Quick recap: on April 11, the National Post reported that the federal government is drawing up a pipeline implementation strategy for Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project and TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline.
Two weeks later, Bloomberg noted the federal government is reevaluating its tanker ban on the province’s northern coast, which currently bars exports from the Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.
The reinvigoration of these pipeline projects come on the heels of a major lobbying effort by both Enbridge and Kinder Morgan. Read more.
Auditor General Report Slams B.C.’s Inadequate Mining Oversight
A hard-hitting report by B.C.’s auditor general that concludes the government’s mines monitoring and inspection program is woefully inadequate and does not protect the province from significant environmental risks, is increasing alarm in Southeast Alaska about B.C.’s mining practices.
The report, delivered this week by Carol Bellringer, is also sparking renewed calls for transboundary mine development to be referred to the International Joint Commission — an independent body designed to resolve disputes over the use and quality of boundary waters — and raising questions about a cooperation agreement under negotiation between B.C. and Alaska.
On the B.C. side of the border there has been a rush of mine development close to the headwaters of the Taku, Stikine and Unuk rivers, Southeast Alaska’s major salmon rivers, with one mine already in operation and about nine others in various stages of permitting and exploration. Read more.
B.C. Government, Enbridge Ordered to Pay $230,000 in Court Costs to First Nations for Failed Consultation
The province of British Columbia and Enbridge Northern Gateway are being ordered to pay $230,000 in court costs to both the Gitga’at First Nation and Coastal First Nations after a January 2016 ruling found both parties failed to fulfill a legal obligation to consult with First Nations on the Northern Gateway pipeline.
The B.C. Supreme Court found the province contravened consultation rules in 2010 when it signed an equivalency agreement that granted environmental decision-making authority for the pipeline to the federal government.
The January ruling was seen as a major vindication for coastal First Nations who felt the province failed to live up to its continual promise to work with and consult with First Nations communities along the pipeline route. Read more.
Black Press Keeps Buying and then Closing Small B.C. Papers. Why?
The buying and subsequent closing of newspapers is a story that repeats over and over again in small B.C. communities.
Since 2010, Black Press has eliminated 10 papers and Glacier Media has shuttered seven. Several others have had their publication schedules reduced.
The change has some journalists warning that creating media monopolies can be dangerous. “It’s concentration of media,” said Don Genova, president of the Canadian Media Guild’s freelance branch.r0
