Tag Archives: Robyn Allan

Energy

Trans Mountain expansion’s price tag surpasses $30-billion threshold

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Trans Mountain expansion project is now expected to cost $30.9 billion in yet another sign it is becoming a fiscal disaster for Trudeau’s government.

“Buying and building this pipeline will go down in the history books as one of, if not the, worst infrastructure decision a Canadian government has ever made,” said Greenpeace Canada senior energy strategist Keith Stewart. “It was always a disaster from a climate change perspective, but this is now an economic crime that has stolen $30 billion of public funds from real climate solutions.”

Continue reading Trans Mountain expansion’s price tag surpasses $30-billion threshold →
Energy, Politics

Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé confronts feds about Trans Mountain’s ‘cooked’ books

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé blasted the federal government in question period after a report forecasted roughly $17 billion of Trans Mountain’s public debt will be forgiven.

“The government has cooked the books to hide the fact that it continues to sink our money into the Trans Mountain pipeline,” the MP for Repentigny told the House of Commons in French on Oct. 7.

Continue reading Bloc Québécois MP Monique Pauzé confronts feds about Trans Mountain’s ‘cooked’ books →
Energy, Finances

Finance Canada won’t rule out debt forgiveness for TMX

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Finance Canada won’t confirm whether it will consider forgiving Trans Mountain’s massive public debts at the expense of taxpayers, despite ample indications that loan forgiveness is inevitable.

Continue reading Finance Canada won’t rule out debt forgiveness for TMX →
Environment

Canada Energy Regulator gave Trans Mountain a ‘break’ on oil spill liabilities plan, says Elizabeth May

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporte

Trans Mountain will not have to come up with an additional $1.1 billion to cover the cleanup cost of possible oil spills from its expansion project, the Canada Energy Regulator has decided.

The regulator told Canada’s National Observer that the Crown corporation has to maintain “total coverage of $1.1 billion” to protect the public and the environment from a possible oil spill from both the current pipeline and its expansion. But others say this is not what was agreed upon in 2019 and that a total of $2.1 billion is needed to cover oil spill risks on both pipelines.

Continue reading Canada Energy Regulator gave Trans Mountain a ‘break’ on oil spill liabilities plan, says Elizabeth May →
Energy, Finances

Kinder Morgan Sold the Trans Mountain Pipeline

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claims that buying the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline is acting in the national interest. Ben Parfait put his feeling about the $4.5 billion purchase to music: “Broken hands on broken ploughs, Broken treaties, broken vows, Broken pipes, broken tools/ People bending broken rules.” Economist Robyn Allan estimates Canadian taxpayers will spend $20 billion before the controversial pipeline expansion is finished; if it is finished. Is anyone surprised to hear that Kinder Morgan sold the Trans Mountain pipeline?

Continue reading Kinder Morgan Sold the Trans Mountain Pipeline →