Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Labour / Migration

It is falsely assumed that big projects equal lots of jobs and, by extension, labour peace if not outright satisfaction. The size and scope of the tarsands means for incredibly dangerous work conditions-- some fatalities at the plants have already occurred. The products seldom get their "value added" in union-run locations, instead the heavy bitumen can be shipped to many different locations across North America for refining, denying benefits to the union. However, the Union does not represent the "guest worker", now being imported in increasing numbers as legislation is changed to make access easier, the term of exploitation last longer, without any new efforts or pathways to deciding to stay after helping tear up the earth.

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Aecon Group adds Alberta tar sands contractor

Aecon Group adds Alberta oil sands contractor

Eric Lam, Financial Post
Aug. 9, 2010

TORONTO -- Toronto-based Aecon Group Inc. said Monday it has offered to purchase the assets of Alberta oil sands contracting services business Cow Harbour Construction Ltd., currently under creditor protection, for $180-million.

If approved, Aecon would become one of the largest mining and land reclamation contractors in the oil sands. It is already the largest construction and infrastructure development company in Canada.

Suncor Energy reports tar sands production numbers for July 2010

Suncor Energy reports oil sands production numbers for July 2010

CALGARY, ALBERTA, Aug 05, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Suncor Energy Inc. reported today that the company's oil sands production during July averaged approximately 322,000 barrels per day (bpd). Year-to-date oil sands production at the end of July averaged approximately 260,000 bpd. Suncor is targeting average oil sands production of 280,000 bpd (+/- 5%) in 2010.

Oil leak in Michigan shines negative spotlight on Canada's Enbridge

By: Lee-Anne Goodman, The Canadian Press

3/08/2010

WASHINGTON - The leak of more than three million litres of Alberta crude from a Canadian pipeline into a rural Michigan creek is shining a harsh spotlight on Canada's Enbridge Inc. in a country increasingly fed up with Big Oil after months of devastation in the Gulf of Mexico.

EPA Calls For Further US Government Study Of Tar Sands Pipeline

EPA Calls For Further US Government Study Of Oil-Sands Pipeline
* JULY 21, 2010
By Edward Welsch
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

CALGARY (Dow Jones)--The environmental impact of crude production from Canada's oil sands should be studied more closely before the U.S. approves a new pipeline from its northern neighbor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

Tar sands boost CNRL earnings

Oilsands boost CNRL earnings

President calls Calgary firm's results 'stunning'

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald August 6, 2010

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. on Thursday credited its growing oilsands production for significantly higher second quarter financial and operating results that handily beat analyst expectations.

Poll on Anti-Tar Sands Ads

Anti-oilsands advertisements

Calgary Herald
August 9, 2010 2:06 AM

-Before watching the Rethink Alberta video, 54 per cent of Britons and 49 per cent of Americans said they would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.

-After watching the video, only 24 per cent of Britons and 26 per cent of Americans would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.

Keystone XL Pipeline would ship oil and jobs south

Pipeline would ship oil and jobs south
Published On Sun Aug 08 2010

Dave Coles President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union

An unlikely coalition of Calgary oil workers, Nebraska farmers, Michigan mothers, Greenpeace shock troops and a powerful U.S. congressman have a chance to achieve what many thought impossible — bring a Canada-U.S. oil pipeline project to a screeching halt.

The pipeline they are trying to stop is a 9,600-kilometre monster designed to ferry black bitumen from the Canadian tarsands due south to planned refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

New Suncor 'coming together'

$480M profit trounces forecasts one year after merger

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald; Postmedia News
July 30, 2010

The new Suncor is starting to jell a year after its blockbuster merger with Petro-Canada, its chief executive said Thursday after the company marked a return to second-quarter profitability.

"I really feel like the team is coming together," CEO Rick George told analysts.

An ill wind in oil country

A heavy smell of tar hangs over this hamlet, and when people and animals got sick, some residents began to make a stink of their own
Josh Wingrove

From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Jul. 24, 2010

Richard Langer never wanted attention. If the 72-year-old had his way, he would have stayed quietly on his ranch forever. It's where he was born, where he has raised a family and made his living.

CPPIB buys Laricina stake, extends tar sands foray

CPPIB buys Laricina stake, extends oil sands foray
2010-07-06
By Pav Jordan

TORONTO, July 6 (Reuters) - Canada Pension Plan Investment Board extended its foray into Canada's oil and gas sector on Tuesday, buying a 17.1 percent stake in closely held Calgary oil sands company Laricina Energy Ltd.

The CPPIB, which invests surplus cash from the national Canada Pension Plan, has some C$127 billion ($121 billion) in assets under management. The board paid C$250 million, or C$30 each, to acquire more than 8.3 million common shares of Laricina in a private placement.