The North American Institute

Advances in Oil and Gas Leasing, Drilling and Production Continue in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

2008-05-12T18:57:00-06:00

Subsea World, May 11, 2008 - “With approximately 72 percent of the Gulf of Mexico’s oil production coming from wells drilled in 1,000 feet (305 meters) of water or greater, advancement into deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) continues as offshore operators meet the challenges presented in exploring and developing this energy frontier.” Read more.

The Push to Privatize PEMEX.

2008-05-12T18:55:00-06:00

In These Times, May 12, 2008 - “Halliburton is licking its chops at the prospect of Mexico’s state-owned Petróleos Mexicanos going private. Petróleos Mexicanos, or PEMEX, withstood a tsunami of privatizations of formerly state-owned companies in the late 1980s and ’90s. But now, with pro-business President Felipe Calderón in office, the effort is being revisited — and the Mexican left is coming out en masse to defend the 70-year-old company, a long-time source of national pride and a symbol of Mexican sovereignty.” Read more.

Company plans major oil pipeline.

2008-05-12T18:53:00-06:00

Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, May 9, 2008 - “TransCanada Corp. plans to build a 36-inch underground pipeline through eastern Montana and five other states to carry Canadian crude down to U.S. refineries along the Gulf Coast of Texas. The 1,940-mile pipeline project must first obtain land easements and approval from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. No formal announcement has been made yet, but Gov. Brian Schweitzer said this week that TransCanada wants to finish the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline by the end of next year.” Read more.

Virtual Border Fence To Hit Texas.

2008-05-12T18:50:00-06:00

PimpinTurtle, May 10, 2008 - “Sections of Texas’ border with Mexico eventually could be secured by the same kind of high-tech ‘virtual fence’ that’s been deployed in Arizona, key legislators said Friday after touring the state-of-the-art surveillance network. The comments by two subcommittee chairmen with the House Homeland Security Committee — Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, and Christopher Carney, D-Pa.— followed an inspection tour Friday of the $20.6 million virtual fence near Sasabe, Ariz. The project links high-tech surveillance towers, cameras, radar, ground sensors and unmanned aerial drones along a 28-mile section of the 1,947-mile international border.” Read more.

Panel releases report on future of Trent-Severn Waterway.

2008-05-12T18:45:00-06:00

Community Press, May 8, 2008 - “Shortly after the report from the panel on the future of the Trent-Severn Waterway was released, Minister of the Environment John Baird announced that the federal government was immediately allocating $63 million over the next five years for the system above current funding levels. The money will be used for infrastructure repairs along the entire waterway and projects are expected to begin in the coming weeks.” Read more.

US & Canadian Governments renaming “North American Union.”

2008-05-10T18:43:00-06:00

Concerned Citizens Coalition, May 10, 2008 - “The large number of American and Canadian citizens who are aware of the US-Canadian plan to eventually form a North American Union, has caused internationalists and socialists on both sides of the border to revamp their plans, according to a source in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.” Read more.

International Joint Commission Sets Meeting Dates.

2008-05-09T19:25:00-06:00

The Seaway Channel, May 8, 2008 - “The International Joint Commission (IJC), a bi-national commission established under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 between the United States of America and Canada has announced a number of meetings that may be of interest to those who care about the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and other U.S. Canada boundary waters.” Read more.

Mexico Starts Talks on Cross-Border Oil, Kessel Says.

2008-05-09T19:23:00-06:00

Bloomberg, May 8, 2008 [Update 1] - “Mexican Energy Minister Georgina Kessel said Mexico is making diplomatic contacts to ensure it retains its share of oil in cross-border Gulf of Mexico fields. Kessel told Mexican legislators today that the energy reform bill introduced in April by Mexican President Felipe Calderon calls for giving state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos the authority to comply with international accords reached by the government concerning cross-border production, exploration and development.” Read more.

The Alberta Perspective: Sustainability through Partnership - Speech By Premier Ed Stelmach.

2008-05-09T19:21:00-06:00

eGov Monitor, May 8, 2008 - “Albertans recognize that a strong economy is not an end in itself. It’s a means to provide the prosperity, quality of life, and public services we want and need. And Albertans understand that economic growth that doesn’t lead to stronger, healthier, more vibrant communities is of no benefit at all. To build those communities, sustainability must be part of everything we do. It’s a ‘need to have,’ not a ‘nice to have.’” Read more.

México bajará exportación de crudo a Estados Unidos.

2008-05-08T18:05:00-06:00

El Universal, April 28, 2008 - “El Departamento de Energía de Estados Unidos recibió notificación de PMI Comercio Internacional en el sentido de que México recortará sus exportaciones de petróleo crudo hacia el mercado estadounidense en 184 mil barriles diarios en promedio a lo largo de 2008, situación que podría extenderse por dos años más. La filial de Pemex encargada de la comercialización de hidrocarburos en el exterior hizo saber al gobierno estadounidense y a sus clientes en ese país que debido a la caída en la producción de petróleo crudo fue necesario ajustar a la baja la plataforma de exportación comprometida durante el año y que de persistir el problema de la producción se podría mantener ajustado el volumen de ventas externas de petróleo crudo hasta 2010.” Read more.

Border security and threat response discussed at summit.

2008-05-08T17:57:00-06:00

Caledon Enterprise, May 7, 2008 - “In April, Prime Minister Harper participated in the North American Leaders’ Summit in New Orleans. This annual Summit provides three neighbouring countries, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with an opportunity to discuss how they can continue to work together on issues of mutual importance. This year’s Summit was particularly productive, as Prime Minister Harper reaffirmed Canada’s focus on several key areas.” Read more.

38th Conference on the Americas, Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, Presentation.

2008-05-08T17:54:00-06:00

Industry Canada, May 7, 2008 - “Today, I want to look at three themes - first, the desire to improve the security and the flow of trade through the U.S.–Canada border; second, the importance of infrastructure; and third, the need to strengthen cooperation in building energy security and protecting the environment.” Read more.

NAFTA will survive, Wilkins insists.

2008-05-08T16:23:00-06:00

National Post, April 24, 2008 - “The U.S. ambassador to Canada predicts the North American Free Trade Agreement will survive the election of a new president, despite promises by the Democratic contenders for the job to pull out of the pact if it isn’t amended to strengthen environmental and labour standards. David Wilkins says such hustings talk should be taken with a grain of salt.” Read more.

North American leaders defend anti-worker trade policies.

2008-05-07T17:58:01-06:00

People’s Weekly World, May 2008 - “Last month’s summit in New Orleans brought together President Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, all right wingers, for the fourth meeting of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of the Americas (SPP), which is a tri-national grouping designed to coordinate strategy to create a corporate friendly atmosphere. The key power grouping within the SPP is the North American Competitiveness Council composed of 35 representatives of New York Life, Ford, General Motors, Merck, General Electric, Chevron, Wal-Mart, Lockheed-Martin, Gillette, Whirlpool, Home Depot, Scotiabank, Mexicana Airlines, Kimberley-Clark of Mexico, and other US, Canadian and Mexican big business interests.” Read more.

First Annual New Mexico Biodiesel Summit.

2008-05-07T17:42:00-06:00

“More than 100 participants joined top New Mexico public officials, government, educational, environmental, and biodiesel industry leaders to discuss challenges and strategies for public policy and the development of environmentally beneficial biodiesel fuel at the First Annual New Mexico Biodiesel Policy Summit, held March 27-28, 2008 in Albuquerque.” Find out more.

The True Price of Gas.

2008-05-06T17:51:00-06:00

The New Republic, May 6, 2008 - “It could be said that Latin America will come of age politically the day that Pemex, Mexico’s oil behemoth, ceases to be a state monopoly. Until that happens, the psyche of many Latin Americans will be beholden to the mythical notion that government-owned natural resources are the custodians of national identity. That is why President Felipe Calderon’s efforts to open up the oil sector to private investment in Mexico have profound cultural implications.” Read more.

A Primer on Plan Mexico.

2008-05-05T17:46:00-06:00

Americas Program, May 5, 2008 - “On Oct. 22, 2007 President Bush announced the $1.4 billion dollar ‘Merida Initiative,’ security aid package to Mexico and Central America. The initiative has fatal flaws in its strategy; instead of leading to a stable binational relationship and peaceful border communities, its military approach will escalate drug-related violence and human rights abuses. Mexico and the United States face a joint challenge in decreasing transnational organized crime and they must cooperate to strengthen the rule of law and stop illegal drug and arms trafficking over the border. This misguided policy will result in an inability to achieve its own goals and will waste taxpayers’ money. It will also seriously undermine the U.S.-Mexico relationship and Mexican stability.” Read more.

Cómo manejar la relación con Estados Unidos

2008-05-01T14:39:00-06:00

EX Online, May 1, 2008 - “Para campear la descentralización del gobierno federal de Estados Unidos y la negligencia de Washington hacia asuntos mexicanos se han explorado tres caminos en las últimas décadas.” Read more.

Ottawa must reconcile oilsands’ riches, environmental challenges: Expert.

2008-04-29T17:38:00-06:00

Canada.com, April 29, 2008 - “The distinguished Canadian researcher who pioneered the development of the country’s oilsands is warning Prime Minister Stephen Harper that the industry touted to make Canada an energy superpower will “hit a wall” unless the Conservative government urgently injects funding into projects aimed at solving the huge environment problems associated with the resource.” Read more.

Three Amigos meetings ‘thin’ on results.

2008-04-21T21:45:00-06:00

Globe and Mail Canada, April 21, 2008 - “Ottawa gets little out of meetings like this week’s Three Amigos summit in New Orleans and should instead develop a more direct relationship with the United States to get things done, says the influential head of a panel reviewing the Canada-U.S. relationship. The review is being done in an effort to come up with a new agenda for Canadian-American relations as the U.S. elects a new president in November.” Read more.