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.
New Technology Could Help Oil Sands Producers (SU)
SRI Consulting published a new report on producing crude oil from western Canada's oil sands deposits. The report concludes that "with rational engineering and prudent business decision making, grass roots tar sands projects should be economically viable at benchmark crude oil prices below US$60 a barrel." This brings about good news and bad news for the Canadian Oil Sands sector.
VANOC may axe Whistler ceremonies
By BOB MACKIN, 24 HOURS, Dec 24, 2008
A Whistler forest may have been cut for naught.
Medals are supposed to be awarded nightly at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver and the Celebration Plaza next to Whistler Village during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Vancouver 2010 organizers -- faced with unprecedented recessionary pressure for a North American-held Games -- may cancel the Whistler ceremonies to save money.
Voyageur contractors to stay home
Suncor asks workers to hold off ‘remobilizing’ in wake of plummeting oil prices
December 22, 2008
By CAROL CHRISTIAN // Today staff
Some contractors have been asked not to return to Suncor Energy right after Christmas as the company revisits its Voyageur project as oil prices sink lower than predicted.
Suncor spokesman Brad Bellows confirmed this morning the company has asked some of its contractor workforce to hold off “remobilizing” immediately after Christmas.
Bellows didn’t say how many workers would be affected.
Once-booming oilsands face uncertain future as list of cancelled projects grows
By JIM MACDONALD, The Canadian Press
December 22, 2008
EDMONTON — Thousands of workers from as far away as the Philippines are watching their jobs in Alberta evaporate as the richest oil boom in the province’s history deflates.
Sinking oil prices have forced skittish investors to hedge their bets on half a dozen multibillion-dollar oilsands projects, leaving one of the key engines of Canada’s economy teetering on an uncertain future.
Oil Sands Output Cuts Unlikely Despite Sliding Crude Price
OTTAWA (Dow Jones)--The plunge in oil prices has forced the first output cut in Canada, but shutdowns across the country's abundant oil sands are a distant prospect.
Earlier this week, Connacher Oil and Gas Ltd (CLL.T) said it will nearly halve output from its Great Divide oil sands project to 5,000 barrels a day indefinitely. The development in northern Alberta had been producing around 9,000 barrels a day of the sludgy bitumen, which sells for less than benchmark light, sweet crude due to its poor quality.
Vandals target another B.C. gas pipeline
Thu Dec. 18 2008
ctvbc.ca
Vandals have targeted another set of natural gas well sites in northeastern British Columbia, but authorities aren't immediately linking the latest attacks to three earlier bombings to EnCana pipelines in October.
Const. Jackelynn Passarell said Thursday valves were tampered with and shots were fired at well sites operated by Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (TSX:CNQ) and Iteration Energy (TSX:ITX).
Industry upset over JRP deadline
Guy Quenneville
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 15, 2008
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Reaction to news that the Joint Review Panel will not have its report on the embattled Mackenzie Gas Project ready until December 2009 has been uniformly negative and in some cases incredulous.
"You've got to be kidding" was the initial reaction of Ann Marie Tout, president of the NWT Chamber of Commerce.
Canada: Oil and Immigration
13/11/2008 by Gareth McConnell
It’s worth $1.5 trillion, is the largest in North America and for Canada and the world a potential source of petroleum energy and work in Canada for the next one hundred years.
Canada’s oil sands, situated in north-eastern Alberta in an area larger than the state of Florida and is about to become a major avenue to explore for migrants workers wishing to move to Canada.
TransCanada to issue shares to raise money to pay down debt
Argus Leader
November 24, 2008
TransCanada has announced that it will issue 30.5 million shares of common stock to raise about 41 billion Canadian, or $809 million America, to pay down short-term debt and fund its Keystone Pipeline projects.
TransCanada entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters to buy shares from the company at $33 Canadian and sell them to the public in Canada and the U.S.
Midwest oil mining a crude idea to many
Minneapolis City Pages
December 3, 2008 // By Beth Walton
Some 1,500 miles northwest of Minneapolis, the luscious green boreal forests that once lined the banks of the Athabasca River have been flattened. All that's left is an empty, lonely, gray moonscape. That, and the drills.
