Economics

Enbridge pushes for political support of oil sands pipeline
CARRIE TAIT
CALGARY— From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011

Pat Daniel, Enbridge Inc.’s (ENB-T60.180.761.28%) soft-spoken but increasingly vocal chief executive office, wants Canada’s role in the global energy market to become an election issue, publicly pressuring politicians to support his company’s controversial oil sands pipeline – an unusual and risky tactic that highlights the growing resistance to the project.

Madagascar tar sands: the bloody truth

A short briefing on tar sands in the Melaky region of Madagascar.

http://www.wdm.org.uk/clean-banks/madagascar-tar-sands-bloody-truth

Republicans press Obama to approve oilsands pipeline

By Sheldon Alberts, Postmedia News March 31, 2011

WASHINGTON — The heated policy debate over Alberta's oilsands took centre stage Thursday in the U.S. Congress, with Republican lawmakers claiming President Barack Obama has "failed to act" swiftly enough to ensure a secure long-term supply of Canadian crude.

Interviews with residents of Fort MacKay and Fort Chip, regarding cultural and environmental situations for their communities, especially with respect to the water coming from tar sands operation areas that are allegedly responsible for statistically impossible rates of cancer.

In America's Capital, a Fierce Fight over Oil Sands

Today begins The Tyee's major series reported from Washington on the intense, high stakes political struggle fueled by Alberta crude.

By Geoff Dembicki, March 14, 2011
TheTyee.ca

In the hallways and offices of America's capital city, a war is being quietly waged out of view of most Canadians and Americans.

The outcome will decide North America's energy future and its impact on the planet's climate.

Canadian Oil Sands Takeover
An Unconventional Future for Crude

By Keith Kohl
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

One quick glance out the window, and I knew we weren't in Baltimore anymore.

In fact, it didn't even seem like we were even in Canada...

The twister had scooped up my beaten-down Chevy and dropped us in the middle of a wasteland.

Having just woken up after rolling into Fort McMurray, my cohort's face immediately scrunched up as the smell of oil wafted inside the car.

Canada provinces continue to back nuclear power

VANCOUVER, March 15 (Reuters) - Key Canadian provinces reaffirmed their support for nuclear power on Tuesday and the national regulator declared the country's generating stations safe even as Japan's crisis spurred other nations to back away from nuclear.

Ontario, Canada's most populous province, said there was no change in its plans to keep the nuclear-powered portion of its electricity output at 50 percent.

Oil prices plunge on Japan nuclear crisis

Japan’s reactor woes send oil prices lower

By Robert Gibbons, Reuters
March 15, 2011

NEW YORK — Brent crude prices on Tuesday tumbled 4.5 per cent, its biggest drop in over 13 months, as Japan’s escalating nuclear reactor crisis sparked risk aversion even as clashes in Bahrain and Libya briefly pulled prices off lows.

Province says more study needed on oil sands impact
Ian Campbell Mar 09, 2011
660news.com

The provincial government says any impact from the oil sands warrants further study.

The latest report by a government-appointed panel failed to dig up any differences than the findings of independent scientists.

The province says contamination in the Athabasca River comes from natural sources, but University of Alberta researchers say they've traced hydrocarbons and heavy metals directly to the oil sands.

Global unrest making oil sands look even more attractive

February 23, 2011

CALGARY, AB, Feb. 23, 2011/ Troy Media/ – Oil prices spiked to their highest level since the recession this morning, as unrest in several Middle-Eastern countries spooked commodity markets. How this impacts Alberta depends largely on how long the rise lasts for. If instability continues to reign, it could spell good news for investment in Alberta.