Canadian News
The latest news from and about Canadian issues.Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Alberta premier defends oilsands development at U.S. governors’ meeting.
Westmount Examiner, July 1, 2008 - “Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach defended his province’s development of crude from Canada’s massive oilsands Tuesday as environmentalist complaints trailed him to the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Wyoming. Stelmach said he expects his province’s oil industry to be scrutinized because it’s the top source of imported crude oil to the United States. Alberta exported 1.35 million barrels of crude oil a day to the United States in 2006, making up 13 per cent of U.S. crude imports. ‘Being the No. 1 supplier to the United States, we expect that we’ll be drawing attention, simply as a result of that,’ Stelmach said.” Read more.
Border no barrier to many issues.
Calgary Herald, July 1, 2008 - “They may not know anything about equalization formulas or funding public medicine, but when it comes to energy, water and wildlife, the western U.S. governors share many issues with Alberta and other western provinces. ‘Geography defines the relationship,’ Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Monday.’And history defines the relationship in that the economies are much more interrelated. The economy of Wyoming is more related and more typical of the western provinces of Canada than we are the state of New York.’” Read more.
Pacific coastal states join B.C. in signing agreement to develop green strategies.
The Canadian Press, July 1, 2008 - “British Columbia has joined four U.S. states in signing the Pacific Coast Collaborative, an agreement to co-operate on green strategies along the Pacific coast. Premier Gordon Campbell announced the project on the second day of the annual Western Governors’ Association conference, held this year in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. ‘I believe that we will establish a legacy of engagement among the leaders that will lead to co-operative action on critical issues that face our region both now and in the future,’ Campbell said from Wyoming.” Read more.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Border no barrier to many issues.
Calgary Herald, July 1, 2008 - “They may not know anything about equalization formulas or funding public medicine, but when it comes to energy, water and wildlife, the western U.S. governors share many issues with Alberta and other western provinces. ‘Geography defines the relationship,’ Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Monday. ‘And history defines the relationship in that the economies are much more interrelated. The economy of Wyoming is more related and more typical of the western provinces of Canada than we are the state of New York.’” Read more.
Premier says Canada has supported U.S. war efforts, so don’t snub Alberta oil.
The Canadian Press, June 28, 2008 - “Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says Canada has “protected the backs” of Americans in several wars and U.S. politicians should consider this before rejecting what some are calling ‘dirty’ oil from the oilsands. ‘We’re protecting each other in the Middle East and Afghanistan,’ said the premier. ‘We’ve been together in both world wars. We’ve been good trading partners.’ Stelmach said that’s the message he’ll take to the annual meeting of western U.S. governors and premiers this weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The U.S. government is currently drafting a law that could limit American agencies from using oilsands fuels because of the large volume of emissions created in their production.” Read more.
American Big City Mayors don’t want Canadian gasoline
Canada Free Press, June 30, 2008 - “Today I heard various media reports that the mayors of many American cities want to boycott gasoline made from oil sands in Canada. This proves that ignorance is bliss. All oil from the Alberta oil sands is heavy crude and must be refined twice, first in a heavy crude upgrader then once again through another refinery process before that high quality oil can be made into light products such as gasoline. After the final refining of the upgraded oil is complete, the resulting light oil is of the highest grade and therefore the best quality and has the least impurities compared to normal oil taken from conventional oil wells.” Read more.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Oil or water.
London Free Press, June 29, 2008 - “It has been called God’s canvas. A freeze-frame of what the world looked like 10,000 years ago, when millions of buffalo grazed freely on these grasslands. It’s a tract of virgin land, unsullied by human activity. The slopes in this part of the emerald country roll upon themselves like sea waves, while watercolour mountains are painted on the distant horizon.” Read more.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
New Canada oil pipes will address tight space: NEB.
Reuters, June 26, 2008 - “Capacity is tight on Canada’s crude oil pipelines, but as much as C$23 billion ($22.8 billion) in new lines could be on the way to help supply current and as-yet-untapped markets, the country’s energy regulator said on Thursday. The National Energy Board said new pipeline space is needed to handle rising production from the oil sands and to give producers flexibility in where they can ship their crude. In a report on the 45,000 km (27,960 miles) of oil and gas pipelines it regulates, the NEB said there was some rationing of space in 2007 on Enbridge Inc’s (ENB.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) 1.9 million barrel a day system to the U.S. Midwest and beyond, and that the system ran at or near capacity in this year’s first quarter.” Read more.
Friday, June 27, 2008
NAFTA and the Elephant in the Room.
IRC Americas Program, June 25, 2008 - “It’s rare for the junior partners of NAFTA—Mexico and Canada—to have a chance to sit down and discuss regional integration without the dominating influence of the United States. Even when they do, of course, the U.S. is the elephant in the room. The University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico hosted a conference recently on the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) from the Canadian and Mexican perspective. Although most of the presentations were from academics, businessmen or government officials, our panel on civil society participation set me to reflecting on the long personal and political history of the nearly 15-year-old NAFTA and its offspring, the SPP.” Read more.
Canada holds winning hand in oil fight.
National Post, June 25, 2008 - “With the fight against Canada’s oil sands getting uglier by the day, the United States should be reminded that its bargaining position is a weak one. Canada’s chips include getting nasty on the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline and cutting off U.S. preferential access to Canada’s energy under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Canada can also build very big, new offshore markets for oil that no longer meets the standards of U.S. energy snobs.” Read more.
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