Economics

Clip:

"Are we going to see [U.S.] troops on our soil for minor potential threats
to a pipeline or a road?" he asked.

Good question, but what's our collective answer?
--M

Vancouver Sun February 23, 2008

Canada-U.S. pact allows cross-border military activity

Deal allows either country to send troops across the other's border to deal
with an emergency

David Pugliese

Canada and the U.S. have signed an agreement that paves the way for the
militaries from either nation to send troops across each other's borders

Fri, February 22, 2008
Gateway pipeline back on track
UPDATED: 2008-02-22 01:25:47 MST

Enbridge will transport product from Alberta oilsands to B.C. coast

By MARKUS ERMISCH, SUN MEDIA

Pipeline company Enbridge Inc. has picked up construction pace on the Gateway Pipeline after slowing down the project in late 2006.

Construction is expected to finish between 2012 and 2014, said company spokeswoman Jennifer Varey, noting that construction costs will most likely come in above the original $4 billion.

Cost pressures primarily stem from higher labour prices and materials costs.

The housing crisis in Alberta, as it gets more and more desperate has as it's corollary more people-- in particular young, often racialized women-- working in the survival sex trade. This, like almost everything else in Alberta, comes from the extremity of the tar sands boom with no attention paid to human or environmental cost. The woman below is likely another victim of the tar sands.

--M

Sex trade slay
Fri, February 22, 2008
RCMP need the publics help with the latest homicide
By KEVIN CRUSH, SUN MEDIA

Grande Prairie suffering effects of uncontrolled growth
City's national ranking fell from fourth to 99th in one year
Dan Barnes, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2008

GRANDE PRAIRIE - On a brilliant, blue sunglasses-mandatory Monday, the good folks of Grande Prairie were enjoying the outdoor pleasures of a city that just two short years ago was ranked the fourth best place to live in the country.

Ahead of Calgary. And Vancouver. And yes, even Edmonton.

New Pipeline Approved
Feb 21 2008 7:19PM
KXMBTV Bismarck

The Public Service Commission gives the go-ahead for a 218 mile oil pipeline through eastern North Dakota.

The Keystone Pipeline will run through eight counties. You can see it on this map.

The pipeline will carry about 600-thousand barrels of oil per day from Alberta to Illinois and Oklahoma.

Commissioner Kevin Cramer says it's in the public interest to build the pipeline.

Enbridge rekindles oilsands pipeline plan

Jeffrey Jones, Reuters Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008

CALGARY -- Enbridge Inc. has rekindled plans for a $4-billion pipeline to Canada's West Coast in response to demand from producers and refiners wanting oilsands-derived crude shipped to Asia, Enbridge's chief executive said Thursday.

Enbridge, the country's second-largest pipeline operator, has convinced enough potential customers to fund the remaining costs to get the Gateway pipeline project to the regulatory approval stage, CEO Pat Daniel said.

Ottawa expands work program
2 new offices to help ease labour needs
Feb 12, 2008 04:30 AM
Nicholas Keung
IMMIGRATION/DIVERSITY REPORTER

Ottawa is expanding the temporary foreign worker program into Ontario to help fill the province's labour needs, a move some fear could further hurt already underutilized and underpaid skilled immigrants.

Immigration Minister Diane Finley announced yesterday the opening of the program's two new offices in Toronto and Moncton, N.B., in addition to the three already established in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.

Excerpt from Alberta Liberals / Kevin Taft on "Labour Shortages"

Oil Price Closed Above $100 a Barrel; World Leaders Ignore this Signal of Impending Shortages

Press release, The Oil Drum

The price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil closed above $100 for the first time on February 19, 2008. "Rising oil prices have been giving a clear signal of pending shortages for over five years now," according to TheOilDrum.com. By ignoring this signal, world leaders are steering the world toward an energy disaster characterized by shortages, high energy prices, inflation, civil unrest and famine.