Close X
Sunday, September 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Environmental Groups To Premiers: No Oilsands Growth In Canadian Energy Strategy

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jul, 2015 12:39 PM
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A dozen environmental groups across Canada say there should be no role for oilsands growth in a Canadian energy strategy.
     
    Canada's premiers are meeting St. John's, N.L., and an energy agreement is high on the agenda.
     
    The groups want a strategy that would halt oilsands development and the infrastructure that would support it, such as pipelines, oil train facilities and tankers.
     
    They also want the provinces to make clean energy infrastructure a higher priority than new oil and gas proposals.
     
    The notion of a Canadian energy strategy came about in 2012 under then-Alberta premier Alison Redford.
     
    A big component of that vision was improving market access for Alberta crude by building support for new pipeline infrastructure.  
     
    "Approving tarsands pipelines like Energy East and Kinder Morgan, which is what this strategy appears to do, would lock in high carbon emissions and make it practically impossible for Canada to reach its climate reduction targets," said Dale Marshall, national program manager with Environmental Defence.
     
    But Calgary energy company TransCanada criticized Marshall's view.
     
    "If Mr. Marshall is against oil and petroleum products, then what is he willing to give up? Will he give up his cellphone, his laptop, his credit card?" TransCanada spokesman James Millar said in an email.
     
    "You can't have it both ways: malign the oilsands and say we should stop development, while at the same time being only too happy to use the products made from oil that enhance our daily lives."
     
    Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley has taken a different approach to pipelines than her Progressive Conservative predecessors. She has said she won't advocate for TransCanada's long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline in the United States or Enbridge's contentious Northern Gateway proposal across British Columbia.
     
    But Notley has given qualified support to Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain expansion to the Vancouver area and TransCanada's Energy East Pipeline to New Brunswick.
     
    "This is the moment when Premier Notley should be signalling a new direction for Alberta that recognizes a strong national energy strategy must be informed by strong climate goals," said Louise Comeau, executive director of Climate Action Network Canada.
     
    Notley and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard discussed Energy East ahead of the premier's meeting. She said she's hopeful Quebec will get behind Energy East as long as it meets the province's environmental and economic requirements.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canadian Pacific Challenging Responsibility In Lac-megantic Disaster In Court

    Canadian Pacific Challenging Responsibility In Lac-megantic Disaster In Court
    SHERBROOKE, Que. — A judge has begun hearing arguments that could determine the fate of more than $431 million destined for victims and creditors of the 2013 train disaster in Lac-Megantic, Que.

    Canadian Pacific Challenging Responsibility In Lac-megantic Disaster In Court

    Vancouver Residents Asked To Avoid Seawall After Apparent Diesel Spill In False Creek

    Vancouver Residents Asked To Avoid Seawall After Apparent Diesel Spill In False Creek
    Jeff Brady with the Canadian Coast Guard says hundreds of metres of containment booms have been set up off Granville Island.

    Vancouver Residents Asked To Avoid Seawall After Apparent Diesel Spill In False Creek

    RCMP Investigate Second Weekend Shooting In Surrey That Put Two More In Hospital

    RCMP Investigate Second Weekend Shooting In Surrey That Put Two More In Hospital
    RCMP say they responded to reports of gunfire between two vehicles (in the 18600 block of Highway 10) around 10 p.m. on Saturday.

    RCMP Investigate Second Weekend Shooting In Surrey That Put Two More In Hospital

    Vancouver Police Warn Of Downtown Robberies Against Seniors, No Charges Laid

    Vancouver Police Warn Of Downtown Robberies Against Seniors, No Charges Laid
    Officers responded early Thursday and Friday mornings after a woman allegedly entered two unlocked suites in an apartment building (near the intersection of Seymour and Davie streets) and robbed the occupants.

    Vancouver Police Warn Of Downtown Robberies Against Seniors, No Charges Laid

    Journalist Laura Robinson's Suit Against John Furlong To Begin Monday

    Journalist Laura Robinson's Suit Against John Furlong To Begin Monday
    VANCOUVER — A freelance journalist who alleges former Vancouver Olympics CEO John Furlong publicly portrayed her as unethical, heartless and cruel is set to have her day in court.

    Journalist Laura Robinson's Suit Against John Furlong To Begin Monday

    Human Rights Watch Raises Concerns Over B.C. Terrorism Trial

    Human Rights Watch Raises Concerns Over B.C. Terrorism Trial
    A terrorism trial underway in British Columbia runs disturbingly parallel with an emerging trend in U.S. anti-terror efforts targeting some of society's most vulnerable people, says an international human rights group.

    Human Rights Watch Raises Concerns Over B.C. Terrorism Trial