Search Results for: bitumen

Bitumen producers’ distant, unlikely, and disingenuous promises

In perhaps the ultimate demonstration that ‘net zero’ promises are a delaying tactic meant to preserve the status quo which favours fossil fuel producers, Canadian bitumen sands giants Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, Imperial Oil, MEG Energy, and Suncor Energy have formed “an alliance to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from their operations by 2050.” … Continue reading “Bitumen producers’ distant, unlikely, and disingenuous promises”

How much has been put into the bitumen sands?

Canadians (and especially Canadian politicians) seem to often work from the assumption that so much has been spent on developing Alberta’s oil sands that Canada is now committed to continuing with the project. There are many problems with the argument. Particularly when it comes to new investments, it could be seen as a case of … Continue reading “How much has been put into the bitumen sands?”

Canada is still in denial about climate and the bitumen sands

Canada’s bitumen sands continue to be the largest source of growth in Canada’s greenhouse gas pollution, and the biggest barrier to Canada’s fair participation in a global climate change mitigation strategy. Not only does continued bitumen sands investment perpetuate an industry which undermines Canada’s claim to be serious about Indigenous reconciliation, but giving the industry … Continue reading “Canada is still in denial about climate and the bitumen sands”

Scale of bitumen sands investment

Midway through the boom’s first wave, in 2006, a Statistics Canada study reported that Alberta was in the midst of “the strongest period of economic growth ever recorded by any Canadian province.” Annual provincial gross domestic product (GDP) and population growth both cleared 10 percent. When the oil industry’s champions first pitched the federal and … Continue reading “Scale of bitumen sands investment”

The bitumen sands and global decarbonization

Still, even if it was not recognized in many boardrooms in Calgary or anywhere else in the industry, oil’s dominance could no longer be taken for granted. Climate change was not readily managed like the sludge in a single tailings pond or contained like the mess from a single pipeline spill. This was a more … Continue reading “The bitumen sands and global decarbonization”

Elena Cherney and Steve Paiken on pipelines and bitumen sands

They stress the unknown future production levels from U.S. oil fracking as important for determining the future size of Canada’s oil industry. They mention this Jeff Rubin report: Evaluating the Need for Pipelines: A False Narrative for the Canadian Economy Abstract: The claim that additional pipeline capacity to tidewater will unlock significantly higher prices for … Continue reading “Elena Cherney and Steve Paiken on pipelines and bitumen sands”

Is there an alternative to extracting the bitumen sands?

I only just came across it, but back in January CBC News asked a bold question: can the oil sands be phased out? Related: Objections: cash, jobs, and taxes Re-training This is your adjustment time ‘Shut down the oil sands’ is not an extreme position Two things Canada’s oil industry needs to understand Climate change, … Continue reading “Is there an alternative to extracting the bitumen sands?”

Boomtowns and bitumen

Since 1999, the population of Fort McMurray has nearly doubled. Primarily, this is on account of the oil sands: unconventional petroleum reserves whose exploitation is being driven by high prices and geopolitics. The demand for labour is dramatically increasing its price, both directly and indirectly. Apparently, inexperienced truck drivers can expect to make $100,000 per … Continue reading “Boomtowns and bitumen”

Trudeau knocks a hole in the carbon price

I know they are hurting in terms of popularity, but offering one group an exemption to Canada’s carbon price predictably led to calls for equivalent ‘favours’ (if freedom to wreck the planet is a favour) from everyone. It’s worth remembering how bad Canada’s total historical climate change record has been: Liberal government set to miss … Continue reading “Trudeau knocks a hole in the carbon price”

Will Trudeau gamble on a 2021 election?

For weeks, the press has been full of reports about a potential election, with the Trudeau Liberals potentially hoping to replace the 147 seat minority which he won in the 2019 election with another majority like in 2015. Speculation has reached the point that a prominent potential Liberal candidate has told the media that he … Continue reading “Will Trudeau gamble on a 2021 election?”