Open Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper : Shipping bitumen to Asia is not in Canada's national interest

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

I recently read that an agreement has been reached by Canada’s Energy ministers that would declare that shipping oil from the tar sands to Asia is in Canada’s National interest. I am shocked and appalled that this conclusion could be reached by our provincial and federal ministers. As someone who was born and raised in Alberta and spent my career in the oil and gas industry, I am aware that oil from the tar sands is a resource that is owned, regulated and controlled by the province of Alberta and not the Federal government. In fact Alberta has fought a long and difficult battle against the Federal government to guarantee this resource, and any associated revenues, remain in Provincial control.

From this fundamental constitutional arrangement, it is clear that the profits and rewards of selling Alberta’s bitumen to Asia will only benefit the province of Alberta and their multi-national corporate partners. It will create jobs for some and immense profits for a privileged few. On the other hand, the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and the associated tanker traffic through BC’s Coastal waters will endanger British Columbians and one of the most beautiful and fragile ecosystems in the world. How can this be in Canada’s national interest?

In a world where we are quickly depleting conventional reserves of oil and gas, it is critical for Canada to play a leadership role in moving towards a sustainable energy future. Whether you personally believe in the science of global warming or the oil industry’s corporately- funded propaganda, the rest of the world is seeking to decrease carbon emissions and move towards higher levels of energy efficiency and sustainability. Your Government’s unquestioning support of Alberta’s oil and gas industry over all other provinces and economic sectors is costing Canadian jobs and our economic security. This has been clearly demonstrated in the 2009 TD Bank, David Suzuki Foundation/Pembina Institute economic study and report entitled “Exploration of two Canadian greenhouse gas emissions targets: 25% below 1990 and 20% below 2006 levels by 2020”

There is an alternative to selling Alberta’s bitumen to Asian and American markets. The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and the associated tanker traffic are clearly not in Canada’s National Interest. Canada deserves better leadership than this.

Sincerely,

W. Keith Hirsche

1161 Chapman Road, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L7

(250) 929 5586

cc: Jack Layton - Leader of the opposition Rich Coleman -BC Energy Minister

Christy Clark: Premier of British Columbia Jean Crowder - MP Cowichan

Elizabeth May - Leader Green Party of Canada MP Saanich Gulf Islands

Joe Oliver - Minister Natural Resources (Canada )

A real world perspective on the tar sands debate

As in most conflicts, the first victims in the battle over the Alberta tarsands are people who have little in the way of resources to fight back. However, they are taking real action in ways that cut through all the rhetoric of our usual debate about the needs of the economy vs the environment.

For some important perspective and inspiration, this article on the the tarsands healing walk is well worth reading.

Please read this - it's depressing - but it's for your own good

It's been three years since we left our jobs in the oil and gas industry and embarked on this seemingly random and unexpected journey into the greater world beyond. It's been three years, and I still can't decide what I want to be when I grow up. That can be pretty depressing.

However, in the big picture, I am still confident that we made the right decision. I still don't know what my role is, but I know in my bones that things are going to have to change. Our precious economy teters on the brink of oblivion - and more importantly, the degradation of our natural world is accellerating unchecked.

To put all of this in perspective, take the time to read this article. As stated by Derrick Jensen, "If your experience is that your food comes from the grocery store and your water comes from the tap, then you are going to defend to the death the system that brings those to you because your life depends on them. If your experience, however, is that your food comes from a land base and that your water comes from a stream, well, then you will defend to the death that land base and that stream."

Reading this article could save your life - and certainly the lives of your children.

Why Stop at Massive Economic Growth when Infinite Growth Is within Reach? « Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

W0w - I finally see the light!!!! Infinite economic growth is possible and ecological/environmental constraints are only a pesky illusion!!!


Why Stop at Massive Economic Growth when Infinite Growth Is within Reach? « Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

Harper Conservatives ‘hypocrites’ on oilsands: Alberta

This fascinating article from the Calgary Herald poses an interesting range of opinion. First the Obama administration is beginning to pressure the Harper Conservatives on the oilsands - even beginning to wonder whether a moratorium on new development might be in order. Apparently, this is prompting the Harper government to threaten to implement regulations for the oilsands unless the Alberta PCs implement something first.

For the Alberta PCs, this is a menacing threat - Stelmach will not tolerate Ottawa (remember Harper and most of his cabinet are actually from Alberta) interfering with their tarsand operations. Besides, they claim they are confident that Alberta is already providing world class oversight and monitoring on this amazing resource. And beyond that, the Harper Government (TM) is not doing enough to help Alberta with its world-class PR campaign - including lobbying offices in Washington DC and beyond - to sell the world on the tar sands development.

On top of all this, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers is complaining that the Stelmach PC government is already ruining their ability to make money in the province and unless this improves, they might leave and ruin Alberta's economy.

Let's take a reality check here....

The tar sands are out of control. Their ongoing development contributes more GreenHouseGas emissions than many industrialized countries and in terms of energy balance, they are a very poor choice as an energy source (yielding only 3 barrels of oil for every barrel of oil equivalent invested). In spite of passionate claims to the contrary - Alberta's monitoring and regulation programs have been proven to be woefully inadequate. From Harper's conservatives to Stelmach's PCs, there is far more tax payer money being spent in a PR campaign (for more information on this, just review the Bruce Carson scandal) promoting the unregulated exploitation of this resource than there is on monitoring, regulation or enforcement. Not only that, Alberta is giving royalty holidays on projects until their capital investment is paid off - so companies are operating essentially risk-free - and even when royalties are collected, they are based on bitumen prices which are about half of the world oil prices. American companies and American workers are benefiting from the upgrading jobs and world oil prices. The failure of the Alberta PC government to collect the fair share of profits for the people of Alberta is one of the biggest reasons that the Alberta government can't afford to pay for health care or infrastructure development. If you don't want to take my word for it, just compare the royalties collected by the Norwegian government to what Alberta collects.

Even PC founder and former Alberta Premiere Peter Lougheed is on record in calling for a moratorium on future developments.

Let's get real here. The Alberta government, under pressure from CAPP, and with help from the Harper Conservatives are stealing from the people of Alberta and from the Canadian people. All we are getting are a few good paying jobs and environmental destruction of the boreal forests at a rate that has never been duplicated in human history.

And if you think that multi-national oil companies are going to stick around to clean up their mess when the most profitable oil sand mining areas are depleted - why don't you take a quick look at the history of the Sydney tar ponds.

Harper Conservatives ‘hypocrites’ on oilsands: Alberta

Peak Oil: A Chance to Change the World | Common Dreams

I might be accused of being a pessimist - or perhaps being overly critical - and this might be a fair accusation. Nevertheless, I find myself incredibly frustrated by the actions of some of my colleagues in the oil and gas industry. Exxon-Mobil is probably the easiest example to criticize. For one thing, they are the biggest and the best at what they do. Among my complaints, they have made the largest investments in funding pseudo science to refute global warming - much like the big tobacco lobby of a few decades ago. They have also used their money and influence to overturn Canada's environmental safeguards that would have slowed down their tar sand mining operations and even to attack Alberta's provincial government for requesting slightly higher royalty payments.

OK - in fairness, I guess corporations exist to maximize profits and these pseudo-persons, from a legal perspective, are not encumbered by conscience. From this perspective, Exxon is just doing its' job.

That being said, I find it sad to hear that their current CEO is being invited as an inspirational speaker at university commencements.

And this alternative commencement address - given a few minutes after Exxon's heart-warming words - offers some small beacons of hope for an alternative future ahead.


Peak Oil: A Chance to Change the World | Common Dreams

80% renewable energy possible by 2050: U.N. - World - CBC News

In a world facing the challenges of declining oil and gas reserves coupled with climate change, it will take massive investments in renewable energy and infrastructure to make significant changes. Fortunately, there are countries interested in creating an alternative and sustainable future.

Unfortunately, Canada is continuing to subsidize the oil and gas industry rather than take a leadership role in this critical move towards sustainability. This leaves us with the least energy efficient economy in the industrialized world at a time when energy prices are moving towards record levels.

Will we ever have the necessary motivation for political change?

80% renewable energy possible by 2050: U.N. - World - CBC News

$4 Gas: Get Used To It : Planet Money : NPR

A repeat of 2008?

$4 Gas: Get Used To It : Planet Money : NPR

The Canadian Economy will soon suffer from Harper's out-of-touch energy policies

Stephen Harper claims to be "business friendly" - his critics might even call him "corporation friendly". This is generally observed in terms of his government's plans to reduce corporate taxes while burdening consumers with unpopular HST programs and decreasing public services like health care because there isn't enough money to fund them. Harper justifies this by saying that these corporation friendly actions are needed to insure that companies will invest in Canada and create jobs which will grow the economy.

However, it is important to note that a Harper government isn't friendly to corporations that seek to develop important new economic sectors. Even when these companies would provide many quality jobs and even reduce our economic dependence on declining (and increasingly expensive) supplies of fossil fuel.

When it comes to carbon taxes or cap and trade systems to benefit the environment, the Harper conservatives claim these measures would ruin the economy and threaten countless jobs. Economic analysis shows that this economic slow-down is caused because the carbon management systems simulate high oil prices - and this causes the economy to shift away from fossil fuel usage. Fortunately, government raises money with these systems that is typically used to fund alternative energy systems, public transit etc. This new industry and transportation development creates new jobs that ultimately grow the economy. For a good example of this, just look at Denmark.

Harper's extreme loyalty and complete allegiance to the oil and gas industry leaves Canada completely vulnerable to high oil prices - which are inevitable as oil production slows on a global level. Lagging behind the rest of the world on renewable energy and environmental protection will ultimately handicap Canada's economy far more than any carbon management regulations.


Green energy sector not cheering Tory majority - The Globe and Mail


Their man has a majority; now oil patch wants elbow room - The Globe and Mail

Life under a Jack Layton government - Canada Votes 2011 - CBC News

Is this too much to hope for??

Life under a Jack Layton government - Canada Votes 2011 - CBC News