It is falsely assumed that big projects equal lots of jobs and, by extension, labour peace if not outright satisfaction. The size and scope of the tarsands means for incredibly dangerous work conditions-- some fatalities at the plants have already occurred. The products seldom get their "value added" in union-run locations, instead the heavy bitumen can be shipped to many different locations across North America for refining, denying benefits to the union. However, the Union does not represent the "guest worker", now being imported in increasing numbers as legislation is changed to make access easier, the term of exploitation last longer, without any new efforts or pathways to deciding to stay after helping tear up the earth.
Big oilsands players looking to solidify holdings by gobbling up smaller stakes
By Lauren Krugel (CP) – November 11, 2009
CALGARY — Northern Alberta is a patchwork of motley oilsands properties, with some chunks controlled by energy heavyweights and others in the hands of smaller companies.
With virtually all of the premium morsels already spoken for, the map is expected change significantly as the bigger players consolidate their positions by gobbling up smaller holdings.
‘Peak oil’ closer than we think, says IEA mole
Oil gushes from a well
Whistleblower say phoney oil figures are being used to avoid panic on markets
By Edward Helmore
FIRST POSTED NOVEMBER 10, 2009
Despite the discovery of massive new, untapped reserves, the world is much
closer to running out of oil than official estimates show, claims a
whistleblower at the International Energy Agency in the /Guardian/.
The unnamed source claims the US has been deliberately underplaying any
potential shortage and, in effect, the IEA's annual Energy Outlook, expected to
All eyes on $4B Syncrude stake
By Deborah Yedlin, Calgary Herald
October 30, 2009
ConocoPhillips' stake in Syncrude is up for grabs. Will the taker be an existing co-owner of Syncrude or will a new player--even a foreign national oil company--buy it as an entree into the oilsands?
Who is going to buy ConocoPhillips' nine per cent interest in Syncrude?
SD ranchers voice concerns about Keystone pipeline
By CHET BROKAW (AP) November 4, 2009
PIERRE, S.D. — Ranchers who live along the route of a crude oil pipeline that TransCanada Keystone wants to build across western South Dakota said Tuesday they are worried about oil spills and damage to their land, water and roads.
Nov 4, 2009 1:35:00 PM MST
Enbridge boosts 2009 outlook, expects growth ''well into next decade'' (Enbridge)
CALGARY _ Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) increased its 2009 guidance and exuded confidence Wednesday that it could maintain steady growth into the next decade.
"It´s safe to say that we are on track to deliver a record growth year for Enbridge," president and CEO Pat Daniel said on a conference call with analysts.
Devon to seek approval for oilsands project
Company plans third phase of Jackfish Lake
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald
November 4, 2009
CALGARY - In another sign the log jam of stalled oilsands projects may be easing, Devon Energy Corp. on Wednesday said it plans to seek approval in 2010 for the third phase of its Jackfish Lake thermal project.
The news was that funding for the pipeline had been killed, and we had at the least a temporary victory over this evil pipeline plan through the Deh Cho valley. This minor but real victory was giving us much needed breathing room away from this pipeline and the backdoor, no-public-input sell out by the WWF, CPAWS and the CBI to promote the Nahanni as a "victory" when it was a sop given by the Feds to allow them to use *our money* to build the MGP.
BusinessNorth Exclusives
Alberta-Superior pipeline takes center stage in world climate debate
10/27/2009
by Richard Thomas
On Aug. 20, the U.S. State Department granted a Presidential permit for the 1,000-mile “Alberta Clipper” pipeline from Canada’s Alberta oil sands to Superior, due for completion in mid-2010.
On Sept. 2 Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., the partner of Canada-based Enbridge, celebrated in Carlton County, where the company had stacks of pipes ready for construction.
The Sunrise Project, along with a held lease in the southern Athabasca region called Kirby as well as a project to massively expand refineries in both Ohio and Indiana to take tar sands bitumen, are projects that involve BP (British Petroleum) and would signify a new level of depravity for the former "Beyond Petroleum" company headquartered in London near the Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays and others investing in these disastrous projects.
--M
Husky earnings 'surprise' affects shares
Analysts predict slow growth for energy firm
By Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herald
While Corporate fronts like the CBI and others have promoted "trading" "permission" for the Mackenzie Gas Project as a way to get "more" protected areas in exchange for this development, the reality is that construction of this pipeline is not only awful in and of its own right, it is also development that pertains to the beginning-- not the end-- of development of the entire north in terms of industrialization. This polemic has been raised many times before-- but the fact that developers are speaking openly stating this fact is something to grasp immediately.
