Tag Archives: Wilderness Committee

Environment

Poll Finds Opposition To Site C Growing

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

More than 1,000 British Columbians participated what appears to be more off a spin exercise than a “poll.” Though critics constantly point to the lack of need, respondents to the BC Hydro commissioned survey were asked if they supported the dam “to help meet the rising demand for electricity in B.C.” Despite this, unconditional support for the controversial project has dropped to 49%. The poll finds opposition to Site C growing.

Continue reading Poll Finds Opposition To Site C Growing →
Environment, Finances

Do The Pacific Coast’s Climate Leaders Mean Business?

5 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

On June 1, 2016, the Governors of Washington, Oregon and California joined British Columbia’s Environment Minister and representatives from six West Coast cities, in the Borgia Room of San Francisco’s Westin St. Francis Hotel, to sign what history may show was a key milestone in the struggle to mount a concerted defence against the ravages of global temperature rise. The 2016 Pacific Coast Climate Leadership Action Plan has a strong emphasis on issues like ocean acidification; the integration of clean energy into the power grid; “support for efforts by the insurance industry and regulatory system to highlight the economic costs of climate change; and so-called “super pollutants” (also known as short-lived climate pollutants).” This sounds good, but do the Pacific Coast’s “Climate Leaders” mean business?

Continue reading Do The Pacific Coast’s Climate Leaders Mean Business? →
Environment

Can Canada Build More Pipelines? Or LNG Facilities?

7 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM1

In a recent interview with the ECOreport, Simon Fraser University Climate Scientist Dr, Kirsten Zickfeld described Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s idea of fighting climate change while expanding the oil sands and building new pipelines as “delusional.” There is only a finite amount of carbon we can release into the atmosphere and if we hope keep the global temperature rise to 2 degrees C. We are already close to 1.5 degrees and may pass that threshold this year. Even if we do not build any new fossil fuel infrastructure, Canada will exhaust “its’ fair share” of carbon emissions by 2030. These were quite strong statements, so I asked a couple of other scientists – as well as environmentalists, politicians and government spokespersons – Can Canada build more pipelines? Or LNG facilities?

Continue reading Can Canada Build More Pipelines? Or LNG Facilities? →
Environment

Government Decides Whether To Issue New Site C Permits

1 Comment

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM

The battle to save the Peace River Valley is not over. First Nations and local farmers are continuing the fight in court. Though Premier Clark’s government intends to destroy the existing ecosystem to “the point of no return,” in the weeks to come the Canadian government decides whether to issue new Site C permits.

Continue reading Government Decides Whether To Issue New Site C Permits →
Energy, Finances

$50 Billion For Electricity BC Does Not Need

3 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM

British Columbia’s regulatory accounts have been receiving a lot of attention lately. Business Vancouver compared them to a shell game, in which expenses are deferred to the future so that the government can report “profits.” Vaughn Palmer writes that the province has “cumulative long-term obligations amount to $102 billion, with Hydro accounting for the bulk of them.” The item that really caught my eye was $50 billion for electricity BC does not need.

Continue reading $50 Billion For Electricity BC Does Not Need →