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.
Strike threat looms over booming oilsands
http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/15812.cfm
By The Canadian Press - For Business Edge
Published: 07/13/2007
The looming threat of Alberta's first trades strike in 25 years could slow construction in the booming oilsands, ultimately harming the province's reputation as a reliable investment climate, observers say.
Sign of the times
Airlines report heavy travel from Newfoundland to Alberta
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=45096&sc=79 [St John's Nfld]
PETER WALSH
The Telegram
Canada’s major airlines are reporting brisk business this summer on flights from Newfoundland to Alberta.
WestJet added the province’s only non-stop flight from St. John’s to Calgary this summer.
Rival Air Canada says its Newfoundland to Alberta services introduced in 2006 are “popular” again this year. Neither airline would release specific numbers, but both say business on the routes is going well.
A clip from the entire article below:
"Mr. Stelmach said the province's decision to sign a special immigration deal with Ottawa earlier this year is part of that strategy. The agreement is expected to make it easier and faster for immigrants to settle in the province by cutting red tape. It will also give the province more control over selecting skilled immigrants."
Alberta's inflation is everyone's interest
MICHAEL MENDELSON
Globe and Mail Update
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070711.wcomment0712...
July 11, 2007 at 11:45 PM EDT
Oil majors target Canada after leaving Venezuela
http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/07/06/en_eco_art_oil-majors-target-c...
Oil giants have vowed to invest over USD 100 billion in projects to drill 174 billion barrels of oil in Alberta
Heavy crude oil in both Canada and Venezuela pose drilling technical difficulties and require costly enhancers to make them suitable for refineries, but unlike Venezuela, Canada offers political and tax stability
EL UNIVERSAL
Locals lose out in Alberta's oil boom
By Ian McKinnon and Reg Curren Bloomberg News
Published: June 12, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/11/bloomberg/bxoil.php
CALGARY: Marilynn Sjulstad says she is experiencing the pain of an oil-fueled economic boom in Alberta while deriving little benefit from it.
Sjulstad, a 57-year-old Edmonton resident who has arthritis and fibromyalgia, says her rent will soon jump 27 percent - five times the increase in her monthly disability check.
Transplanted wild rose likes B.C. better
http://www.quesnelobserver.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=27&cat=48&id=...
By Andrea Johnson
Jul 08 2007
Went back to Wild Rose country a few weeks ago.
Fuelled by a major energy boom, Alberta hasn’t really changed from when I was last there two years ago.
Except for the fact both Edmonton and Calgary boast a population of more than one million, there is road construction chaos everywhere – infrastructure is crumbling.
Three-year Suncor contract gets nod from union workers
UPDATED: 2007-07-06 01:53:16 MST
By CP
http://calsun.canoe.ca/Business/2007/07/06/4317550-sun.html
FORT McMURRAY -- About half of unionized workers at Suncor Energy Inc. near Fort McMurray have voted in favour of a new three-year contract.
Members of the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) Local 707 approved an agreement including a wage increase of 7% in the first year and 6% in each of the following two years, as well as a $4,000 lump sum payment.
FORT MCMONEY, FORT MCPROBLEMS
http://www.vueweekly.com/articles/default.aspx?i=6751
ANDREW CISAKOWSKI / cisa@vueweekly.com
For the past decade, Fort McMurray has grown at a rate of 10 per cent per year, over twice the provincial average. During this time it has developed all the characteristics of a boomtown: skyrocketing prices, overstretched infrastructure and a growing homeless problem. Only able to raise money through increasing property taxes, the city is at a loss of how to deal with these problems. More and more, public pressure is mounting for oil companies to foot the bill.
TransCanada boosts size of planned Keystone line
Tue Jul 3, 2007 11:43 AM EDT138
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&stor...
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp. (TRP.TO: Quote) said on Tuesday it plans to boost the capacity of its proposed Keystone oil pipeline from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest to 590,000 barrels a day, from 435,000 barrels, after shippers committed to sending more crude on the line.
