Economics

PM hears frank concerns from locals in closed-door meeting

By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Fort McMurray Today staff
Tuesday November 06, 2007

There were no promises or money from Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his brief visit to Wood Buffalo Monday, and only vague answers about any tangible results of the visit from area MP Brian Jean.
But that didn’t stop some of those business leaders who participated in a roundtable discussion with the PM from calling it a success, especially when it came to raising awareness of issues faced by the region.

Prentice: We need to 'demystify' the SPP

Jim Prentice, the federal Industry Minister, says governments and business leaders in North America must do a better job of selling the virtues of closer economic and security links among the three countries.

In a speech Tuesday to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, he said there is an urgent need to "demystify" the push to closer ties among Canada, the United States and Mexico, as outlined in the Security and Prosperity Partnership launched in March of 2005.

Analysis: Oil and Gas Pipeline Watch
Nov. 5, 2007 at 6:24 PM
By SIOBHAN DEVINE
UPI Correspondent
China finishes construction of tunnel for Sichuan-Shanghai gas pipeline

On Monday, workers in China’s Hubei province completed construction of a 1,405 meter tunnel connecting the banks of the Yangtze River in Yichang City for a new gas pipeline to supply China’s energy-short east.

Six steps to “getting” the global ecological crisis

Posted by Prof. Goose on November 4, 2007 - 9:05am
John Feeney, Ph.D. Trained as a psychologist

Some of us who examine and discuss environmental matters are constantly puzzled and frustrated by the seeming inability of elected officials, environmental organizations, and environmental and political writers to “get” the nature of our ecological plight. Could it be they’re simply unaware of the ecological principles which enable one to understand it?

Fort Mac braces for huge rent hikes
Three-bedroom place with leaky roof costs $2,950
By The Canadian Press
Sun. Nov 4 - 6:44 AM

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Some apartment dwellers in northern Alberta’s booming oilsands were shocked this week to find notices posted on their doors warning of impending rent hikes exceeding $1,000 a month.

Management at River Park Glen told tenants the increases would become effective Feb. 1.

Rent crunch to worsen
Vacancy rate forecasted to dip to under 1%

By KEVIN CRUSH, SUN MEDIA

Think the rental market is tight now? Just wait until next year.

That's when the apartment vacancy rate in Edmonton is forecasted to dip below the current 1% - making it that much harder for already frustrated renters to find a place to live.

"It's just getting retarded," said Jasmine, who asked her last name not be printed.

SIX MONTHS LOOKING

Jasmine said she's already spent more than six months trying to find a decent place for her and her fiance to rent with no luck.

Dear Minister Prentice,

Re: Pipelines Across Treaty # One Territory

I have yet to receive a response from you on the October 10th letter I sent to you regarding the Enbridge Alberta Clipper pipeline. This pipeline as proposed will cross Treaty one territory and is currently in the National Energy Board approval process. The federal government must take this matter seriously and you as the Minister in charge of pipelines must be proactive in addressing the concerns of First Nations in these matters.

Enbridge to build C$2 billion oil sands pipeline
Fri Nov 2, 2007 10:31pm GMT

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc said on Friday it will build a C$2 billion ($2.14 billion) oil pipeline to handle tar-like bitumen from Petro-Canada's (PCA.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) planned Fort Hills oil sands project.

Enbridge, Canada's No. 2 pipeline firm, said the 480-km (300-mile) line will be capable of carrying 250,000 barrels of diluted bitumen a day from the project site near Fort McMurray, Alberta, southwest to an upgrader near the Alberta provincial capital of Edmonton.

Nuclear power talks continue in the county
Despite questions from Woodlands County council the province has declined to get involved in the nuclear power discussion.

Chandra Lye
Star Staff
Wednesday October 31, 2007
A letter received from Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) Minister Ted Morton told council that the department would not consider a land purchase application, submitted this summer, because of Energy Alberta’s decision to build a nuclear plant in Peace River.

Pipeline developer says requested delay would be costly

The Associated Press - Saturday, November 03, 2007
BISMARCK, N.D.

An oil pipeline executive says the city of Fargo's request to delay a Canadian pipeline project would add up to $100 million in costs.

Fargo wants North Dakota's Public Service Commission to reopen hearings on the Keystone pipeline.

Keystone Vice President Robert Jones says Fargo had a chance to take part in earlier hearings about the project and did not.