Tag Archives: Werner Antweiler

Energy, Politics

Parties pitch energy plans before B.C. election

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC Greens and Conservatives launched competing visions for energy generation this week in contrast to the NDP’s future plans to heat peoples’ homes, fuel cars and run businesses.

All the parties emphasize the need to meet B.C.’s growing energy demands, while keeping rates affordable and fostering First Nations ownership of energy projects — but proposed courses of action vary wildly.

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Energy

Document reveals influence of oil and gas lobbyists on B.C. officials after Indigenous Rights ruling

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

In the wake of a precedent-setting Indigenous Rights case in June 2021, B.C.’s ministry of energy did something rather unprecedented: it immediately cancelled summer auctions for new oil and gas tenures.

This sudden closure of oil and gas opportunities in response to the Blueberry decision — a B.C. Supreme Court ruling, which determined the province violated the Treaty Rights of Blueberry River First Nations by permitting and encouraging damaging industrial development — sent a shudder through the industry that continues to reverberate across the country today.

Documents  released to The Narwhal through freedom of information legislation show  petroleum and natural gas (PNG) lobbyists told public servants that  B.C. could lose more than $90 million in annual revenue and up to 10,000  jobs as a result of the Blueberry decision. These stark warnings were  then passed on to senior B.C. government officials, including Fazil  Mihlar, deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

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Finances, Politics

Election 2020: BC’s economic challenge

“ … The challenge is the economics that is going to come home fairly quickly.  We’ve had too many people off business; off work. The bills are building and we must address that,” said BC Liberal candidate Norm Facey, in the only interview he granted Cortes Currents.

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Environment, Finances

BC Is Moving Forward With Site C

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By Roy L Hales

When he was the leader of the opposition, John Horgan argued that Treaty 8 Nations “ have entrenched constitutional rights to practice hunting and fishing” on the land that will be underwater if the Site C Dam is built. The BC Utilities Commission recently concluded that “increasingly viable alternative energy sources such as wind, geothermal and industrial curtailment could provide similar benefits to [BC Hydro] ratepayers as the Site C project, with an equal or lower Unit Energy Cost.” Never-the less, today Premier John Horgan announced BC is moving forward with Site C.

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Politics

Obama Rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline

By Roy L Hales

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He does not believe this project will make a meaningful long-term contribution to America’s economy, lower gas prices or increase America’s energy security. What it could do is undercut the nation’s global leadership in the fight against Climate Change. This morning, President Barack Obama Rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline.

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