Making News
Making News
Energy plan on front burner
OTTAWA— Energy and mining ministers from across Canada will sit down Monday for two days of talks on the country’s energy future.
Federal, provincial and territorial ministers will be in Kananaskis, Alta., discussing a possible national energy framework— a pan-Canadian approach to streamlined energy regulations, innovation, supply and exports.
New Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver will co-chair the conference.
The idea of a national strategy is gaining broad support — led by business leaders, including the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
In its submission to the annual conference, the business advocacy group maintained Canada’s energy resources could be a key driver for the country’s economic future.... Read more »
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http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3218027 - Login to post comments
Australia’s PM shows political courage on climate change
Last Sunday night, the Prime Minister of Australia went on national television.
Prime ministers in democratic countries take to the airwaves only if they have something extremely important to say. And Prime Minister Julia Gillard did. She said something inconceivable in Canada, at least under Stephen Harper’s government.
“Most Australians now agree our climate is changing,” she said. “This is caused by carbon pollution. This has harmful effects on our environment and on the economy. And the government should act.”
And act it did. Next July 1, the Australian government will put a price of $23 a tonne on carbon for the country’s 500 largest emitters. Three years later, the government will convert that tax into an emissions trading scheme, or cap-and-trade, whereby the government will mandate emission limits and let the market set the price.... Read more »
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/australias-pm-shows-politic... - Login to post comments
No easy task for ministers to set national energy strategy in Kananaskis
CALGARY - Energy ministers meeting in picturesque Kananaskis, Alta., next week won't be ejoying a typical relaxing mountain getaway.
University of Alberta professor Andrew Leach says it will be an incredible challenge as the federal and provincial politicians try to come up with a coherent national energy strategy.
He says a unified policy would help boost the value Canada gets for its resources, but it will be tough for every province to get what it wants.
John Bennett, executive director of the environmental group Sierra Club Canada, says the whole thrust of the Kananaskis meeting is flawed.
He says it's focused on expanding Canada's oil export markets, when it should be centred on reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels that cause climate change.... Read more »
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Corporate sponsorship for energy meeting slammed
A coalition of environment groups says the large corporate sponsorship at next week's meeting of energy ministers "sends the wrong message to Canadians."
Eleven energy companies and associations are spending $180,000 to sponsor the annual conference that will be held July 16 to 19 in Kananaskis, Alberta. The sponsorship is just under a third of the approximately $600,000 price tag for the conference.
Federal, provincial and territorial ministers and their deputy ministers are holding their annual meeting to discuss, among other issues, a national energy strategy. But environment groups say the sponsorship is a clear attempt by the petroleum industry to influence people who will be making crucial decisions about Canada's energy future.... Read more »
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http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/2011/07/13/pol-energy-ministers-corporate-s... - Login to post comments
Private funding for energy ministers meeting a ‘corrupting influence’
A national environmental organization slammed corporate sponsorship of an upcoming meeting of energy ministers, funding the Alberta government and industry defended.
The Sierra Club Canada in a news release bashed the coverage of up to 30 per cent of costs tied to the July 16 to 19 conference in Kananaskis Country by “big oil,” calling money put up by energy firms and groups “a corrupting influence.”
Twelve oil and gas companies and industry organizations are together spending between $150,000 and $180,000 of the $600,000 it will cost for the annual meeting of provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers and their federal counterpart, according to the Alberta government, which is hosting the conference.
Starting Saturday, politicians will visit the Calgary Stampede, tour Alberta’s oilsands and spend time in Kananaskis discussing a proposed national energy framework, among other policy issues.... Read more »
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http://www.calgaryherald.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=5098356 - Login to post comments
List of corporate sponsors raises eyebrows at energy summit
A major summit of Canadian energy and mines ministers starting this weekend in Alberta has provoked skepticism over its list of corporate sponsors, almost exclusively from the oil and gas industry, that have offered up $180,000 for a barbecue, catering and signs for delegates at the event.
The funding consists of donations of either $30,000, $20,000 or $10,000 for gold, silver and bronze levels of sponsorship but the Alberta government said the industry stakeholders are not buying any preferential treatment at the conference in Kananaskis which is expected to examine plans for a national energy strategy.
"Sponsorship is one thing," said Jay O'Neill, the director of communications from Alberta Energy. "It's not (about) getting access on the agenda, (having a) speaking opportunity, or anything like that."... Read more »
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http://www.timescolonist.com/List+corporate+sponsors+raises+eyebrows+energy+summ... - Login to post comments
Big Oil sponsors energy meeting
An environmental group is slamming next week's Energy and Mines Ministers Meeting in Kananaskis.
Sierra Club Canada says they can't believe the major sponsors of the event are big oil companies.
Executive Director John Bennett says the optics are bad, and it sends the wrong message to Canadians.
Bennett says the ministers' conference has three Olympic-sounding levels of sponsorship, but the ministers won't win any medals.
Companies sponsoring the four-day get together include Shell, Encana, Nexen and the Oilsands Developers Group.
Sierra Club Canada says they can't believe the major sponsors of the event are big oil companies.
Executive Director John Bennett says the optics are bad, and it sends the wrong message to Canadians.
Bennett says the ministers' conference has three Olympic-sounding levels of sponsorship, but the ministers won't win any medals.
Companies sponsoring the four-day get together include Shell, Encana, Nexen and the Oilsands Developers Group.
RELATED:
Industry sponsorship of ministerial conference throws gasoline on a simmering fire Calgary Herald, July 20, 2011... Read more »
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http://www.660news.com/news/local/article/253333--big-oil-sponsors-energy-meetin... - Login to post comments
Energy ministers' meeting - Fox in the hen house
Media Release, July 11, 2011
OTTAWA - Canada’s energy and mines ministers are meeting in Kananaskis, July 16-19th, to discuss a national energy plan. The agenda includes presentations from industry and even some environmentalists, but the outcome is pretty clear when you consider who is paying for the meeting. It’s sponsored by big oil including some of the main players in Alberta’s unfolding Tar Sands mega-disaster.
“This is clearly a corrupting influence. It smells bad and certainly sends the wrong message to Canadians,” said John Bennett, Executive Director, Sierra Club Canada.... Read more »
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Japan nuclear: Radiation halts water clean-up
Operators of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant have suspended an operation to clean contaminated water hours after it began due to a rapid rise in radiation.
Some 110,000 tonnes of water have built up during efforts to cool reactors hit by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO AND ILLUSTRATION... Read more »
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13819767 - Login to post comments
Kent estimates Canada is 'a quarter of way' to meeting 2020 GHG emissions targets
Environment Minister Peter Kent has been in his Cabinet role for more than six months, but with a new majority government, "the jury is still out" on his track record in the portfolio, says environmental lawyer Adam Chamberlain, a partner in law firm Borden Ladner Gervais.
"It will be interesting to see how things evolve now that there is a majority government and the Conservatives can govern in a manner that is not nearly as focused on election-readiness," said Mr. Chamberlain, whose Toronto practice focuses on environmental regulation and defending against environmental suits.
John Bennett, executive director of environment group the Sierra Club, said it's clear that Mr. Kent (Thornhill, Ont.) is "not much different" from past Conservative environment ministers. He met the environment minister in a meeting alongside other environmental groups after he was appointed.... Read more »
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http://www.thehilltimes.ca/page/view/kentenergy-06-20-2011 - Login to post comments
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