Category Archives: Politics

Politics

Did the Government Create BC’s Future Energy Shortfall?

By Roy L Hales

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According to BC Hydro, the province may cease to produce sufficient energy by 2027. If Premier Christy Clark’s dreams of developing an LNG export industry go forward, it could happen as early as 2021.   According to internationally recognized energy expert Marvin Shaffer, this situation is “a result of the provincial government’s misguided decision to close the gas-fired Burrard Thermal plant.”[1. page 15, Affidavit #1 of Marv Shaffer, BC Hydro vs Keen Boon et al, Supreme Court of British Columbia,  No.8159064 VancouverRegistry] Did the Government Create BC’s Future Energy Shortfall?

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Politics

BC signed a five year accord with the Tsilhqot’in Nation

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It has been almost two years since the Supreme Court of Canada recognized  Aboriginal title in the caretaker area of the Xeni Gwet’in, one of six Tsilhqot’in communities. In item 153 of that decision, it says ” … British Columbia breached its duty to consult owed to the  Tsilhqot’in through land use planning and forestry authorizations.” Now, as the first step towards a lasting settlement,  BC signed a five year accord with the Tsilhqot’in Nation.

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Politics

McKenna Asks Canadians To Trust The Government

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By Roy L Hales

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The first meeting of what Environment Minister Catherine McKenna calls our “pan-Canadian team on Climate Change” is now over.  She has been closeted with environmental ministers from the provinces and territories, McKenna called it “the most positive meeting that has taken place in a very long time. Though short on details,  the Minister said “We all know we have to act together”and alluded to “real opportunities” in the clean tech sector. To distill her message down to the three words which she did not actually use, McKenna asks Canadians to trust the Government

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Politics

Has Canada Come Back?

By Roy L Hales

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The Canadian delegation in Paris is more than 250 strong. In addition to the Prime Minister, five Premiers, representatives from the provinces and Territories whose Premiers did not attend, representatives from all the opposition parties, twenty negotiators, support staff, personal from the Canadian embassy in Paris, mayors, business people, youth leaders,  environmentalists and reporters. There has never been a Canadian delegation this large at any previous COP and the sheer size of this endeavour shows that  Canada is taking COP 21 seriously. After a decade of withdrawal from the fight against Climate Change, has Canada come back?

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Politics

Canada Is Back In The Fight Against Climate Change

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Catherine McKenna, Canada’s new Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, has already been  in Paris. She met with her international counterparts for three days to discuss key issues prior to the upcoming United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 21). Some of the most interesting comments came from the twitter feed. They started after McKenna tweeted, “Canada is back in the fight against Climate Change.”

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