Social Impacts. Overnight injections of migrant workers will not build healthy communities and can have severely adverse impacts on existing communities, especially those of indigenous nations on their traditional lands. Such development brings vices and long term displacement too often. Drugs, alcohol and associated violence spreads. Hunting becomes difficult when the land is threatened, leading to a further loss of culture and tradition. In towns like Fort McMurray there is no planning for the future, but merely consumption in the present. However transient the individuals may be, the populations will not leave, as “development” takes on a logic all its own. All levels of run away development are subordinate to that development, not social need.
Federal government commits to Mackenzie Gas Project
JENNIFER HILLIKER, METRO CALGARY
January 19, 2009 05:49
The $16.2-billion Mackenzie Gas Project may finally go forward.
The project includes construction of a natural-gas pipeline from the Mackenzie River Delta, north of the Arctic Circle, to Alberta. It has been subject to years of delays but Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced Monday in Calgary that the federal government has made a financial offer to the backers of the project.
Definitely the largest of all the SagD plants in operation within Alberta, this plant has now officially begun operations involving "Or Crude"-- a process developed and patented within 1948 conquered Palestine ["Israel"] to reduce energy costs in development of the large oil shale deposits within those borders.
Lawsuit Filed To Stop Tar Sands Development in Utah
01/20/2009
SustainableBusiness.com News
The Sierra Club and the Indigenous Environmental Network are fighting an unprecedented project that would bring one of the dirtiest forms of energy extraction in the world to eastern Utah. The proposed Antelope Creek tar sands oil project threatens to disrupt wildlife, poison and dry up rivers, and imperil human health with hazardous air pollutants, the groups claim. The project would also produce an exorbitant amount of the greenhouse gases.
World running out of oil, says ex-CEO
Jim Buckee warns of $20-a-litre fuel
By Richard Foot, Canwest News Service
January 15, 2009
Consumers shouldn't get too comfortable with cheap gasoline, because the planet is running out of oil and prices will go "sky high" --as high as $20 per litre--as petroleum reserves dwindle in the coming years.
That's the view of Jim Buckee, the British oilman who was CEO of Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc., one of Canada's largest energy producers, from 1993 to 2007.
Activists push policy change for oil pipeline
TORONTO STAR GRAPHIC
At present, oil is piped to Sarnia from Alberta through pipelines that pass through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and numerous U.S. states, and from foreign distributors through Line 9 via Montreal. Enbridge's proposed program would reverse the flow on Line 9 from Sarnia to Montreal to carry oil from the tar sands through Ontario and Quebec to Portland and on to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The project would also require the flow on the Portland-Montreal Pipe Line to be reversed. Embridge does not own this pipeline.
Stalled upgrader receives approval
By Dan Healing And Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herald
January 21, 2009
Provincial energy regulators have approved plans for an Edmonton-area upgrader associated with Petro-Canada's proposed $24-billion Fort Hills integrated oilsands project--even though the company has deferred the project indefinitely.
In a news release Tuesday, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board announced it had conditionally approved the plan by Petro-Canada Oil Sands Inc. to build and operate the upgrader in Sturgeon County north of Edmonton.
Suncor shelves expansion amid first loss in 16 years
Falling prices, rising costs prompt cuts
By Dan Healing, Calgary HeraldJanuary 21, 2009
Suncor Energy Inc. is "downing tools" on the $20.6-billion Voyageur expansion underway at its northern Alberta oilsands operations as it reports its first quarterly loss in 16 years, blamed on falling commodity prices, production setbacks and higher costs.
Canadian politicians/stakeholders see benefits from U.S. lock project
Posted By BOB MIHELL
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sault St Marie This Week
Politicians from Sault Canada, Essar Steel Algoma, and the vice-president of the Canadian Shipowners Association have reacted favourably to a proposed new super lock at Sault Michigan.
January 9, 2009
Youth protest against the tar sands in Fort Chipewyan
Youth from Fort Chipewyan marched through the streets to protest against the tar sands in -32 degree temperatures this afternoon.
The march was organized by 10 year old Robyn Courtoreille, who got other youth involved in the protest.
"Syncrude and Suncor have been poisioning our water, air, so we protested to let them know we want a future not cancer," said Dailen Powder, 12, after the protest.
"I was protesting because I dont want anymore deformed two jawed fish in our lake," said Cherish Kaskamin, 11.
