British Columbia

17/12/15
Author: 
CBC staff
LNG has been a contentious issue among Tsawwassen First Nation members. (Kamil Karamali/CBC)

The Tsawwassen First Nation has rejected plans to build an LNG export facility just north of the B.C. Ferries terminal.

In a vote on Wednesday night, 53 per cent said 'no' to allowing the 32-hectare project on the nation's traditional land.

"What would you rather have, more money or a better environment?" asked Tsawwassen First Nation member Nic Gurniak. "No need to do more damage to the environment than has already been done."

16/12/15
Author: 
Betsy Trumpener
Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping water and chemicals deep into the earth to fracture shale rock beds and release natural gas for extraction. ( (Brennan Linsley/The Associated Press))

British Columbia's energy regulator has confirmed that a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in northeast B.C. in August of this year was caused by a nearby fracking operation.

"This seismic event was caused by hydraulic fracturing," said Ken Paulson, CEO of the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission. Paulson said fewer than one per cent of fracking operations trigger seismic activity, and those quakes tend to be low magnitude and cause little damage.

14/12/15
Author: 
Kelly Cryderman and Brent Jang
A 2013 photo of the Westshore coal terminal in Delta, B.C. JEFF VINNICK/FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Already battered by plunging oil prices, Western Canada has another big problem: the collapse of coal. Alberta and British Columbia are suffering from the fallout of a severe downturn in the global coal market, brought on by China’s rapidly cooling industrial demand and the growing shift away from coal-fired electricity generation. It’s troubled times for an industry that’s long been a quietly powerful force in the Canadian economy.

14/12/15
Author: 
Mark Hume
A model of the proposed Site C dam on the Peace River is seen at the Community Consultation Office in Fort St. John on Jan. 16, 2013. Roland Willson, chief of the West Moberly First Nations, asked the federal government to hit pause on BC Hydro’s $9-billion hydro project to allow time for a review of the assessment process and to look for alternative energy sourc (Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail)

If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet ministers needed any reminder of how difficult their jobs are going to be when it comes to rebuilding trust with First Nations, they got it last week.

Working the crowd, when the Liberal caucus gathered for its annual Christmas party, was Chief Roland Willson, a big man with a powerful voice and an intractable problem he wasn’t going to let anyone ignore.

14/12/15
Author: 
Tom Fletcher

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined other national leaders in hailing the international greenhouse gas emission agreement reached in Paris over the weekend, but the implications for Canada and B.C. remain unclear.

Trudeau said in a statement from Ottawa that he and the provincial premiers will meet within 90 days to develop a plan to do Canada's part in the effort to keep average global temperature rise below two degrees from pre-industrial levels.

10/12/15
Author: 
Theresa McManus
Port Metro Vancouver has approved a permit that would allow Fraser Surrey Docks to operate a coal transfer facility on the Fraser River. Coal would travel from the United States to Canada by train, and loaded onto ocean going vessels at the terminal across from Westminster Quay and Queensborough.   Photograph By File photo

While world leaders were meeting in Paris to tackle climate change, Port Metro Vancouver approved Fraser Surrey Docks’ application for a thermal coal facility on the shores of the Fraser River.

Fraser Surrey Docks applied to Port Metro Vancouver to amend its existing permit to build and operate a direct transfer coal facility, where coal would be loaded onto ocean-going vessels and shipped to Asia. The site is located across the river from Westminster Quay and Queensborough.

10/12/15
Author: 
First Nations Leaders

For immediate release                                                                                       December 10, 2015

First Nation leaders urge Trudeau government to keep campaign promises, stop proposed Site C dam, and usher in new era of cooperation

OTTAWA - First Nation chiefs from British Columbia and representatives from the Assembly of First Nations are calling on the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take a second look at a Cabinet decision of the former federal government providing initial approval of the controversial Site C dam.

09/12/15
Author: 
Gail MacDonald and Yvonne Lattie

From: Leila Darwish [mailto:leila@skeenawatershed.com]
Sent: December-09-15 8:59 AM
To: leila@skeenawatershed.com
Subject: Media Release: Northern B.C Community and First Nations Unite to Fight LNG

 

For Immediate Release December 9, 2015

Northern B.C. Community and First Nation unite to fight LNG

08/12/15
Author: 
Stewart Phillip

At an estimated $9 billion and counting, the proposed Site C dam in northern British Columbia is an economic, environmental and social catastrophe in the making.

Stewartphillip250

05/12/15
Author: 
Justine Hunter and Carrie Tait
Environmentalists and many First Nations along the pipeline path strongly oppose Enbridge’s plans. STAFF/REUTERS

Along the proposed route of the Northern Gateway pipeline, nothing is moving.

There is no clearing, mowing, grading, trenching, drilling, boring or blasting. Industry analysts have almost stopped asking questions because interested parties – contractors, engineering firms and others – have moved on to more realistic prospects. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the project has climbed to $7.9-billion, while not one of the 209 conditions attached to its environmental certificate has been checked off as complete.

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