Economics

With each new project, the practical viability of a mere moratorium on tar sands production becomes ever more clear.

As one can see by both crunching the numbers on energy input needs for tar sands expansion proposals or by glancing at the 2030 proposed pipelines map on the sidebar of this site, this gas is not destinted, for the large component, for Chicago. It would be destined for the Albertan energy grid to turn tar sands deposits into "oil".

--M

Pipeline path to Canada assailed

ALASKA GAS: Critics of TransCanada's plan cite profit, exclusivity.

By WESLEY LOY wloy@adn.com
Published: March 25th, 2008 12:03 AM

Imperial CEO says oilsands needs to burnish its image

Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2008

When Tim Hearn started working at Imperial Oil Ltd. 41 years ago, oil was worth US$1.80 a barrel and natural gas 16¢ per thousand cubic feet.

With oil prices nearing US$110 and gas prices US$10,Mr. Hearn, 64, is retiring on March 31 as CEO and chairman of Imperial, leaving behind a company with no debt and pushing forward some of Canada's largest oil and gas projects. Mr. Hearn will be replaced by Bruce March, 51, an Exxon Mobil Corp. refining executive.

Contamination threatens the North Coast way of life
Iain Hunter, Special to Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, March 29, 2008

I'm told that when other people in British Columbia turn off a few lights at 8 p.m. today to observe Earth Hour, the folks in Hartley Bay are making a bit more of a sacrifice by shutting down the town's only generator.

It's said to be a dry run for the day when they can close the thing down for good and switch to greener and safer hydro generation, for they've been reminded what could lie ahead.

Alberta hit with 800 complaints from foreign workers
Accommodation, unfair wage deductions cited
Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald
Published: Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Just a day before a House of Commons committee meets in Edmonton to discuss the issue of temporary foreign workers, the province revealed it has received more than 800 complaints from foreign labourers in the past 31/2 months.

The most common complaints revolve around perceived unfair wage deductions, fees charged by recruitment agencies and accommodation issues.

Groups slam foreign worker program
By BROOKES MERRITT, SUN MEDIA

Alberta's temporary foreign worker program has no oversight and is mired in so much bureaucracy that employers are allowed to treat hopeful immigrants like indentured labour.

That's what a federal committee travelling Canada to examine immigration issues heard in Edmonton yesterday, during a lengthy meeting in which several interest groups blasted the provincial and federal governments.

'INHERENTLY EXPLOITIVE'

Oilsands tailings mined for minerals

By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Today staff
Tuesday April 01, 2008
Mineral rich waste from oilsands mining may soon be the source used to produce a long list of manufactured products from ceramic tiles and paints to electronics and medical appliances.
This could all come about thanks to a pilot project initiated by Titanium Corporation, and funded, in part, through Alberta Energy’s Innovation Fund. The Alberta grant is valued at $3.5 million, an amount being matched by the Toronto-based company.

The war about what to do about the tar sands oil is well under way, and the article below is the kind of propaganda we should get used to about how much the US needs the tar sands product. In the case of the Michigan area, it should be noted that the expanding refinery capacity would include dumping into the Great Lakes. All of it increases the destruction in Northern Alberta. So these arguments are purely based (below) on a "so lifestyle and consumption patterns don't change" line of thinking.

--M

Don't let tar sand oil slip away

BY MARK J. PERRY • March 31, 2008

Imperial Oil Loses Oil-Sands Water Permit, Globe and Mail Says

By Sean B. Pasternak

March 31 (Bloomberg) -- The Canadian government revoked a water permit that is key to Imperial Oil Ltd.'s C$8 billion ($7.8 billion) Kearl oil-sands project, the Globe and Mail reported.

Canada rushes for its black gold

Released on 27/03/2008

[B]lack gloop is behind a massive boom that is pushing Canada’s construction spend to record heights and sucking skilled workers from all over the country and the world.

Before 2003 Fort McMurray was a quiet town just about as far north in the Canadian province of Alberta as you’d wish to go. Now it’s the epicenter of a building boom that is pushing the whole country’s construction spend to record heights, and a trailer there costs more than a house in downtown Toronto.