Social Impacts. Overnight injections of migrant workers will not build healthy communities and can have severely adverse impacts on existing communities, especially those of indigenous nations on their traditional lands. Such development brings vices and long term displacement too often. Drugs, alcohol and associated violence spreads. Hunting becomes difficult when the land is threatened, leading to a further loss of culture and tradition. In towns like Fort McMurray there is no planning for the future, but merely consumption in the present. However transient the individuals may be, the populations will not leave, as “development” takes on a logic all its own. All levels of run away development are subordinate to that development, not social need.
Ottawa, Dene Tha' reach deal on Mackenzie gas pipeline
Last Updated: Monday, July 23, 2007 | 2:46 PM CT
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/07/23/mackenzie-pipeline.html
The federal government and the Dene Tha' First Nation in northwestern Alberta said Monday that they have signed an agreement resolving concerns related to the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline.
Ottawa targets pipeline red tape
SHAWN MCCARTHY
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070723.RLUNN23/TPStor...
July 23, 2007
OTTAWA -- Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn says he'll press his American counterpart when they meet today to ensure speedy regulatory review of the major pipeline projects needed to carry growing volumes of oil sands crude to U.S. markets.
Groups keep pressing for long-term review of Mackenzie pipeline project
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 | 9:44 AM CT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/07/17/nwt-pipeline.html
Environmental groups say they will still press for an independent review of the proposed Mackenzie natural gas project, even after their request was turned down last week.
Trade workers closer to striking
Members of 5 major unions vote in favour
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/07/20/4356422.html
By GLENN KAUTH, SUN MEDIA
Trades workers have taken one step closer to striking after members of five major unions voted in favour of walking off the job.
The Alberta Labour Relations Board has yet to certify the results, but Barry Salmon, media liaison for the labour groups, said Friday unofficial numbers show all five unions have strike mandates.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=a0fadc90-c1fb-4...
China to expand oilsands presence
July 20, 2007
SHANGHAI (Bloomberg) - China National Petroleum Corp., the nation's largest oil producer, plans to expand its cooperation with Canadian partners on oil sands projects, refuting a company official's comment that it will slow down investment.
Concerns raised at pipeline forum
http://www.sewardindependent.com/c21193.html
Paul Fischer
Seward County residents had another opportunity on July 16 to hear discussion on the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline Project at a pipeline safety forum held at the Seward Civic Center.
The forum, hosted by the GFWC Seward Women's Club, Seward League of Women Voters and Seward Citizens on Pipeline Route Committee, consisted of several speakers-each given the floor for 18 minutes-followed by a question-and-answer period.
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.
This article is a great glimpse, yet it seems to tell us that certain market players throughout the US are less able to predict the future of oil recoverability and capacity than the rest of the population. The line: "The industry is also gambling that oil prices will stay high. If they collapse, expensive oil-sands projects may not pay off." is the needed throw-in to make people not embrace the Peak Oil reality we are already at the start of.
Approximately only a month ago the first new refinery in decades was announced to be under construction in the lower 48 states. This is not to be the last, as the absolutely unparalleled growth of the tarsands is leaving bottle neck-like conditions for transporting the sludge-then-crude-then petrol through the refining processes across Turtle Island. Husky will no doubt go along with some of the foreseen upgrading of facilities, rather than worry about an entirely new refinery. It's all a part of the largest project in history.
--M
Husky on the prowl for refining capacity
