Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Forests

BC’s Forests Produced 256 Million Tonnes of CO2

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British Columbia could be emissions free. The province’s forest cover is vast enough to absorb more carbon than we actually need to use. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Forests has not been doing a good job since the Liberal Government took power. Instead of storing carbon, BC’s forests now emit carbon. So many trees have been clear cut, infested by Mountain Pine Beetles or burned in forest fires, that BC’s forests produced 256 million tonnes of CO2 in the decade following 2003.

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Environment

Eight Days To Comment on Delta’s Proposed LNG Terminal

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By Roy L Hales

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The National Energy Board has already granted an export license, to US based WesPac Midstream, for a facility that could bring up to 120 LNG tankers and 90 LNG barges into the Fraser River every year.  The public’s opportunity to make their concerns known ends June 11. There are only eight days to comment on Delta’s proposed LNG terminal (WesPack Tilbury Marine Jetty).

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Environment

Site C Dam Project Needs To Be Delayed For Two Years

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After a careful examination of BC Hydro’s analysis of the Site C Dam project, energy economist Robert McCullough concluded, “Nobody in their right mind would build anything today.” The 5,100 GW of electricity this facility would produce is not needed. It probably will not be needed before 2028. Ratepayers will save $200 million if construction of the Site C Dam is delayed for two years. In fact, “A longer delay will very likely generate higher net savings.” This was one of many factors that led McCullough, the economist who busted Enron, to conclude the Site C dam project needs to be delayed for two years.

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Politics

What Has The Under2 MOU Changed?

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By Roy L Hales

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Are the drought conditions spreading throughout the West Coast connected to climate transformation? States of emergency have been declared in California, Washington and parts of Oregon. Though British Columbia has not experienced this, a recent computer simulation predicted 80% of its glaciers could disappear over the next decade. This entire region responded by joining with eight other states, on three continents, in a pact to tackle Climate Change. Yet the development of fossil fuel continues, so what has the Under 2 MOU changed on the West Coast?

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Food Security

The Firing Of Agricultural Land Commission Chair Richard Bullock

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The firing of Agricultural Land Commission Chair Richard Bullock has already been called the latest step in the BC Government’s war on agriculture. Though he was appointed by cabinet, Bullock was the head of a supposedly “independent administrative tribunal dedicated to preserving agricultural land and encouraging farming in British Columbia.” He also opposed Bill 24, which weakened protections on 90% of the province’s agricultural land reserve (ALR). There are huge issues with oil and gas underneath some of the agricultural land in the Northeast corner of BC. On April 8, cabinet overrode the ALC to remove 4,000 hectares from the Agricultural Land Reserve in the Peace River Valley, so they could be flooded if/when the Site C Dam is built. Bullock defended agricultural lands against these developments. Yesterday, the government dismissed him in a 30-second phone call.

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