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.
Sierra Legal Suing Alberta over Latest Tarpit Approval
Environmental groups sue over Kearl project
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070330.wkearl0330/B...
Canadian Press
CALGARY — A coalition of environmental groups has launched legal action in Canada's Federal Court to try to overturn recent regulatory approval of Imperial Oil Ltd.'s massive Kearl Oil Sands project in northern Alberta.
When the US/UK make more threats towards Iran, tarsands are worth more. They
want more tarsand oil in order to finish their wars in the Middle East.
It's a perfect match!
Macd
Canada Stocks Rise, Led by Suncor, as Oil Soars on Iran Tension
By John Kipphoff
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=adQeqn9rXq8c&refer=c...
March 28 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian stocks fell for a second day, led by
Manulife Financial Corp., after a U.S. durable goods report renewed
concern that Canada's biggest trading partner may slow, and Federal
Money for Fort McMurray welcome, but pace of oil sands development is still the "elephant in the room"
Stelmach needs to find courage to tell oil companies: enough is enough
EDMONTON, Feb. 26/2007
CNW/ - New funding announced today to address growth pressures in Fort McMurray is welcome but is yet another example of the Alberta government treating the symptoms and ignoring the root causes of the disease, says Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour.
The social impacts of massive, out of control development in Fort McMurray is costing dearly on the issues of health, particularly for new parents and children, with both inadequate housing and a society with few community driven aspects but a severe amount of alcohol and drug abuse, combined with attendant violence. Even the desperate tone of the situation described in this glossy government pamphlet from Food for Two shows the dire situation for services and basic life conditions. It is set to escalate in a manner absolutely out of control, literally.
from
FAKE PEE BIG ITEM IN OILSANDS CAMPS
For the first few weeks, the products only dribbled out the door. But as word filtered through town and out to the work camps, success of the phony pee business suddenly became surreal. From a land where the rush is on for synthetic oil comes a push for a processed product of a different kind: synthetic urine. Just three months after selling his first bag of fake pee from Herbal Essentials, store owner Kelly Hermansen is moving between 35 and 50 units a week, along with other drugmasking products.
Sex, Drugs and Alcohol Stalk the Streets of Fort McMurray
Calgary Herald October 22, 2005
Deborah Tetley; With files by Paul Haavardsrud
It's just after 7 p.m. on payday Thursday and downtown Fort McMurray is a gong show.
Inside the storied Diggers bar, dozens of oilsands workers are poised like bingo dobbers over beers, waiting for their name to be bellowed over the PA system so they can cash their paycheques.
At a going rate of $2 on every hundred, it's the best deal in town, outside of $3.50 highballs.
Ottawa to phase out tax break for tarsands producers
SHAWN MCCARTHY
Globe and Mail Update
OTTAWA — Finance Minister Jim Flaherty moved Monday to end a much-criticized tax break for oil sands producers, but softened the blow to the industry by providing a long lead time for the changes.
In his budget speech, the Finance Minister announced the government will phase out the accelerated capital cost allowance which allows oil sands producers to quickly write off the cost of their investment for income tax purposes.
If you aren't cynical enough and want further proof that none of the Canadian political parties are serious about tackling climate change, the fact they never mention the tarsands demonstrates that it is mostly for show.
When the recent document urging the five fold expansion of the tarsands was leaked through the CBC, this should have made it quite clear why this new water regime is necessary.
The world is running out of fresh water and Canada has lots of it.
This is a setback, and what form of setback is a matter of interpretation. It is a signal that the nations of the North are expected to take a payoff or get steamrolled. It is also an attempt to use the usual doublespeak manner of the Canadian State: not allowing the supreme court ruling to actually effect the economic situation for the Mackenzie Gas Project by delaying the process, but forcing the cosmetic change in the JRP final report. However, it should be noted that decisions on whether or not the MGP goes ahead will come from something other than a federally orchestrated panel.
The Violence of the Letter: Land Claims and Continuing Colonial Conquest in Canada (Peter Kulchyski)
Canadian Dimension Magazine, January/February 2007 Issue
