Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The federal Liberals are sending mixed messages about their climate commitments after a recent combination of harsh words and generous gifts for the oil and gas industry.
Continue reading Mixed messages: Carney Liberals pledge money for LNG while bridling against industry demandsExpansion work underway takes on greater importance amid trade dispute
By Grady Semmens, Originally published on the Canada Energy Centre
Last April, as the frozen landscape began its spring thaw, a 23-kilometre stretch of newly built pipeline started moving natural gas across northwest Alberta.
There was no fanfare when this small extension of TC Energy’s Nova Gas Transmission Limited (NGTL) system went online – adding room for more gas than all the homes in Calgary use every day.
It’s part of the ongoing expansion of the NGTL system, which connects natural gas from British Columbia and Alberta to the vast TC Energy network. In fact, one in every 10 molecules of natural gas moved across North America touches NGTL.
With new uncertainty emerging from Canada’s biggest oil and gas customer – the United States – there is a rallying cry to get new major pipelines built to reach across Canada and to wider markets.
Continue reading U.S. tariffs or not, Canada needs to build new oil and gas pipeline space fastEditor’s note: A Natural Resources Canada news release from September 18, 2020 stated “There are 25,000 oil and gas well sites in B.C., of which approximately 770 are considered orphan. In addition, there are currently 7,933 dormant well sites in the province.”
By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
This investigation is a collaboration between The Narwhal and the Investigative Journalism Foundation.
Oil and gas companies operating in British Columbia have reported 44 “serious” leaks at wellsites over the past year, according to publicly available BC Energy Regulator records.
Continue reading 44 ‘serious’ leaks reported at B.C. oil and gas sites in the past yearEnjoy the latest climate news for Cortes & beyond for March, 2025
Continue reading Cortes Round-up: Spring is here and its time to …By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
“Serious deficiency.” “Very stinky.” “Leakage.” “A hazard.”
Those are some of the ways BC Energy Regulator officials described oil and gas sites when they documented apparent environmental infractions during routine inspections, according to internal documents.
The regulator, a provincial government agency, is largely funded by the oil and gas industry and charged with managing oil and gas activities across the province.
The Narwhal and the Investigative Journalism Foundation identified more than 1,000 instances when inspectors documented apparent infractions yet gave the sites in question a passing grade, according to more than 40,000 records released through freedom of information legislation. The records reveal a widespread pattern: the B.C. government is failing to ensure oil and gas companies comply with regulations designed to protect ecosystems and human health and safety.
Continue reading One oil and gas site was ‘stinky,’ another was ‘gurgling.’ B.C. officials gave them a pass anyway
