By Karen Kleiss, Edmonton Journal September 11, 2012

EDMONTON – The Redford government will continue to press for a Canadian Energy Strategy despite clear signals Tuesday the federal government doesn’t support the plan.

Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said Tuesday that Premier Alison Redford’s national strategy is redundant and unnecessary, tacitly aligning the federal government with Alberta’s opposition Wildrose party.

“I’ve asked (Redford) about what she had in mind and I didn’t hear anything that suggested something that we weren’t actually covering,” Oliver said at a news conference Tuesday after a two-day meeting with Canada’s provincial energy ministers in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Oliver acknowledged the need for federal and provincial governments to work together to develop Canada’s energy resources but said Stephen Harper’s Conservative government won’t back a formal strategy.

“If you want to put a bow on it and call it a Canadian Energy Strategy, go ahead. But we’re not applying that labelling to it,” Oliver said.

The idea for a Canadian Energy Strategy was a cornerstone of Redford’s election campaign, and since taking office in April she has been a relentless advocate for the idea.

Her goal in part is to get all the provinces working together to develop Canada’s energy resources. Technically, this means co-ordinated environmental standards, consistent regulations and construction of new pipelines and other needed infrastructure. Practically, Alberta could benefit from increased co-operation and support from other provinces as it develops its oilsands resources.

Redford is currently on a trade mission in China and a spokesperson for her office declined to comment. Energy Minister Ken Hughes was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but a spokesman for his office said the provincial government won’t abandon efforts to secure a national consensus on energy development.

“Our position on the importance of a Canadian Energy Strategy has not changed,” spokesman Mike Deising said in an email. He did not address Oliver’s comments or the impact they might have on Redford’s proposed strategy.

Wildrose energy critic Jason Hale said he is pleased the federal government agrees with his party’s position.

“We are of the same mindset,” Hale said. “A misguided strategy like this leaves the door wide open to provinces that oppose Alberta’s energy sector to have more of a say over our resources.

“Ultimately, Alberta needs to defend and promote our resources the way we see fit.”

Redford has had some success securing support for the strategy.

At Council of the Federation meetings in Halifax earlier this year premiers from across the country expressed support for the idea. After that meeting, Redford started working with premiers from two other provinces to draft a Canadian Energy Strategy “that recognizes regional priorities and areas of expertise.”

That draft will be presented to premiers and territorial leaders at the next Council of the Federations meeting in the spring of 2013.

Oliver said the meetings in Charlottetown included discussions on improving infrastructure, such as the possibility of building pipelines to carry oil and natural gas from Western Canada to markets in Atlantic Canada.

He said the ministers also talked about improving electricity reliability through data sharing and advancing energy efficiency initiatives.

Two months ago, B.C. Premier Christy Clark withdrew her support for the strategy and for the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline, which would carry Alberta crude to the West Coast.

Clark said at the time that B.C. deserves a “fair share” of Alberta’s royalties for taking on the environmental risks associated with the pipeline, a premise Redford rejected.

With files from The Canadian Press

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By The Canadian Press September 11, 2012

EDMONTON – Less than two weeks after Alberta enacted legally enforceable pollution limits for its oilsands region, industry figures already suggest they will soon be breached by emissions of two major gases causing acid rain.

Regulatory documents for Shell’s proposed Jackpine mine expansion say annual levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are likely to push past limits contained in the province’s Lower Athabasca Regional Plan if all currently planned developments proceed.

The documents, filed late last week, also provide what may be the clearest picture yet of what impact two decades of development have had on northeastern Alberta.

“It validates the concern that many stakeholders have raised about the cumulative pace and scale of development,” said Simon Dyer of the Pembina Institute. “It’s the first real test of the (plan).”

Shell filed the papers after the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency asked the company to give a clearer account of how the environment of the oilsands region has changed since development began and what part the Jackpine expansion would play. Written by environmental consultants Golder and Associates, the document estimates how levels of the two gases have grown over the years.

Average annual levels of sulphur dioxide are estimated at about 20 times what they would naturally be over a large area from Fort MacMurray to about 100 kilometres north. Nitrogen dioxide is estimated to be at least 10 times pre-development levels — although the report acknowledges hard data from that time is spotty.

And if all the projects that have been announced publicly or are in the regulatory process go ahead, the pollutants are projected to exceed what are supposed to be absolute caps.

Sulphur dioxide will reach average annual concentrations of 21.1 micrograms per cubic metre of air, just over the plan’s limit of 20 micrograms. Nitrogen dioxide will reach 59.5 micrograms, well over the limit of 45.

Randall Barrett, director of Alberta Environment’s northern region, said the projections are derived from models deliberately designed to overestimate emissions as a way to ensure caution.

“It shows us we have to be very diligent in how we are setting pollution controls for any plants in this area, because the computer models are predicting that we are getting close or over some of the air quality (levels).”

Regulators use the models to determine what sort of emission controls to impose on applicants, said Barrett.

“What would likely happen is they would go to the most stringent type of air quality pollution control, because the models are predicting you could be over the limit.”

Barrett said actual air monitoring data continues to show both sulphur and nitrogen dioxides remain well under their caps. If those gases increase as more facilities come on stream, the plan includes “trigger” levels that would require industry to improve its pollution controls.

“This (modelling) is enforcing how important that monitoring is.”

The government is obliged to act if pollutants exceed either the triggers or the absolute caps — an obligation that Environment Minister Diana McQueen has underlined.

“It is a legally binding commitment that holds government accountable to Albertans,” she said when announcing the plan Aug. 22.

Spokesmen for Shell weren’t available for comment.

In the document, Shell points out the sulphur dioxide levels are concentrated in areas closest to its mines, regions that should be treated differently. Levels in “non-developed areas” remain below the government’s cap, it says.

It also says elevated nitrogen dioxide levels are a result of “over-predicted” emissions from giant trucks used in the mines and suggests those emissions are being reduced as the vehicles are upgraded.

Dyer says the government’s plan makes no provision for treating some areas differently than others. He also says contaminants in one area do ultimately spread throughout the region.

An earlier Shell document acknowledges 23 small, mostly unnamed lakes, have already passed their critical load for acid.

The document also lists cumulative effects that aren’t yet governed by the regional plan, such as wildlife impacts.

Out of 22 indicator species — including birds, mammals and amphibians — 16 will suffer high or moderate negative consequences even under the current amount of development, it says. Some areas will suffer “moderate” biodiversity loss, even after reclamation efforts.

Shell argues species will rebound as the area is returned to a more natural state and adds there should be enough undisturbed regions to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

Monday, 10 September 2012 17:21 Garrett Simmons

Nick Kuhl & Katie May
LETHBRIDGE HERALD
A wind-wrecked power line is believed to be the culprit of a raging grass fire that forced evacuation of several southern Alberta communities and burned through at least 4,800 hectares around Lethbridge Monday.
Gusting winds snapped a power line in the northwest corner of the Blood Reserve near Old Agency early Monday afternoon —  according to a preliminary Blood Tribe Police investigation, said police chief Lee Boyd — sparking a wildfire that jumped Oldman River and spread to areas of west Lethbridge, nearing the town of Coalhurst 10 kilometres away.
Lethbridge fire chief Brian Cornforth updated the situation at Fire Headquarters at 9 p.m. last night and said the fire is well contained.
“We have the fire in a condition of what we call ‘being held,’ meaning the current resources we have on that fire will work on that fire tonight,” he said.
“We don’t believe it’s going to get any larger unless we have erratic fire behaviour or wind change. We have a significant amount of resources on that fire. Crews have done a phenomenal job.”
At 10:30 p.m. the City of Lethbridge adjusted the local state of emergency, originally issued at 3:44 p.m., to apply only to the previously evacuated areas — Westside Trailer Court, Bridgeview Campground, and areas east of 30th Street West and north of Walsh Drive West — which will remain evacuated and under a state of local emergency.
This adjusted state of emergency will continue to allow local fire crews to monitor hot spots, said Lethbridge Mayor Rajko Dodic.
“It’s now being contained as much as possible,” he said late last night. “We’re now cautiously optimistic and hopefully the news in the next number of hours will get better as we go along.”
More than 100 emergency responders from Lethbridge, Coalhurst, Picture Butte, Coaldale, Nobleford and Taber helped battle the blaze.
But with separate fires across Western Canada and near the U.S. border stretching firefighting resources thin, the County of Lethbridge called in water bomber planes from Pincher Creek, expecting five but receiving only two because of other fires raging in B.C. and in the U.S.
“They’ve dropped a couple of drops already and they’re on their way back to Pincher Creek to recharge and they’re coming back,” said County Reeve Lorne Hickey around 8 p.m. Monday. “They’re trying to get the northerly edge of the fire under control so it doesn’t move north toward Coalhurst.”
The water bombers were expected to return from their 40-minute round trip to make their final drop of the night as the sun set over smoky skies in southern Alberta, leaving officials to pray for gentler winds.
“I’m sure they’re getting a little weary about now, but they’re doing a remarkable job,” Hickey said.
“The foam retardant from the water bombers has helped a great deal,” he added. “But we’re just hoping the wind is going to die down a little bit and they can try to get things under control a little better.”
Alberta’s Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk spoke to media late Monday night at the Enmax Centre after a visit to the community centre in Picture Butte, which took in at least 150 displaced Coalhurst residents.
“Families are obviously nervous and distraught because they left properties behind and all of their belongings,” he said.
“But the most important thing is – and that’s always our priority – is saving lives.”
Authorities couldn’t confirm any structure loss as of late Monday, but Sustainable Resources Alberta and local investigators will be on scene this morning.
The only injury reported was that of one individual being transported by ambulance from Coalhurst to Chinook Regional Hospital.
“Lives are very precious and we want to make sure that we’re able to take care of the situation,” Hickey said. “That’s why we had an evacuation. When it came close to the river it was definitely time to move on.”
Mountain Meadows and Sunset Acres residents, and those in Township 8-22, were the first with an evacuation notice, followed by a full mandatory evacuation to the town of Coalhurst.
Monday’s fire also reignited flashbacks of a massive grass fire that burned through the region last November, spurred on in the midst of a severe windstorm, and scorched thousands of acres of crops and river bottom land as one of the biggest fires the region had ever seen.
That fire started at a sweatlodge ceremony on the west end of the Blood Reserve around 3:30 p.m. Nov. 27, 2011, spreading quickly in extreme wind gusts reaching more than 100 kilometres per hour, jumping the Old Man River and burning through west Lethbridge right up to city limits at 30 Street West, north of 24 Avenue West.
Two Blood Reserve homes were destroyed in the blaze and no injuries were reported. No charges were laid in connection to that fire.
Coalhurst resident George Bradbury remembers that day.
This time he was more prepared, however, as he has all of his house and car insurance papers, as well as his passport, all in a tin box.
He took that as well as the first family photo album he could find before making his way to the Picture Butte community centre as part of the forced evacuation.
“We were outside working and a neighbour came and told us so we went and grabbed some things before the RCMP came down and told us that we had to leave,” said Bradbury, who has lived in Coalhurst for the past six years.
“The first thought that went through my mind was ‘not again’. And it was coming from the same area.”
Jonathan Moedt just moved to Coalhurst in March. He was on his way home from work in west Lethbridge right after the evacuation notice was issued.
“I was met at the entrance of Coalhurst with fire trucks and police there,” Moedt said.
“They told me I wasn’t allowed into Coalhurst because we were being evacuated.
But Moedt was allowed to go in to get his dog. While he was home he also quickly grabbed his laptop, a change of clothes and personal papers.
“I was told I had between two and five minutes to get back out of town and go to Picture Butte. One of the first things through my head was thinking about Slave Lake two years ago and what could possibly happen.”
Tracie Moore at Canadian Red Cross said initially there were 150 evacuees in Picture Butte, 25 at the Enmax Centre and 15 at Fritz Sick.
Heavy traffic and multiple accidents were reported along Highway 25 between Lethbridge and Picture Butte during the late afternoon and pets were being taken in at the Enmax Centre, but Lethbridge Animal Services couldn’t confirm an official number as of press time.
As of just after 11 p.m. last night there were reports that some residents were being allowed back into Coalhurst.

By Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald September 10, 2012 7:00 AM

CALGARY — Soaring commodity values and limited supply continue to push Canadian farmland values to new heights, with price per acre now commanding top dollar in most markets across the country, says RE/MAX in a report released Monday.

The RE/MAX Market Trends Report, Farm Edition 2012, highlighting trends and developments in 16 markets throughout Canada, found that prices have increased almost across the board this year with only the Annapolis Valley, parts of Windsor/Essex, and the Fraser Valley reporting levels on par with 2011.

The report said tight inventory has been an issue in all markets, restricting year-over-year sales activity to a large extent. While low interest rates, high commodity prices, and nutrient/supply management requirements have been the primary factors fuelling the trend toward expansion, increased advancement in farm equipment has also been behind the push for additional acreage, it said.

“Farmers have yet to be deterred from expanding their operations, despite rising values and tight supply,” said Elton Ash, regional executive vice-president of RE/MAX of Western Canada, in a statement. “Pent-up demand has been building, with some farmers making their move after years of sitting on the fence, waiting for prices to correct. Most now believe that there is room for further growth, given the upward momentum of commodity values.”

The report said demand, sales and the value of farmland have climbed in central Alberta again this year. Prices have increased 20 to 25 per cent over year-ago levels. The price per acre of dry land now ranges from $2,000 to $4,500, depending on location and land quality. The average is approximately $3,300 an acre.

“Offering the best and most productive farmland in the region, the Olds area remains among the most sought-after, with price per acre topping $4,500,” said RE/MAX. “Proximity to Highway 2 can also be a factor, with parcels close to this transportation corridor now commanding upwards of $6,000 per acre.

“This pales in comparison to the $20,000 an acre that some land fetched just a few years earlier — when oil and gas were booming and development closer to the cities was on a tear.”

The report said expansion by large operators continues to be the main driver of farmland sales, whether it be cash crop or supply-managed livestock operations. However, inventory remains scant.

The report also said demand remains exceptionally strong for farmland throughout southern Alberta, with buyers eagerly waiting for the right property to come on-stream.

“Inventory has been a considerable challenge, as a shortage of listings continues to characterize the market,” said RE/MAX. “As a result, sales are off last year’s pace and are expected to remain below year-ago levels through to year-end. Cultivated dry land remains in greatest demand, with prices at record levels, as existing farmers continue to eye expansion.”

Price per acre of dry land now sits at $800 on the low end, up to $2,500 to $3,000, although $1,500 to $2,000 is most typical. Irrigation land, with pivot — if it can be had — now generally runs from $5,500 to $6,500 an acre and generally sells in quarter sections of 160 acres, added RE/MAX.

By Karen Kleiss, Edmonton Journal September 6, 2012

EDMONTON – Elections officials are investigating allegations that three Progressive Conservative candidates breached elections contribution laws.

In a letter delivered Thursday to Chief Electoral Officer Brian Fjeldheim, Bill Moore-Kilgannon of Public Interest Alberta alleged the three Tories accepted donations that run afoul of the Elections Finances Contributions and Disclosure Act.

“These contributions clearly break the spirit of the law,” Moore-Kilgannon wrote in the letter, dated Sept. 5.

“It is important that your office investigate these contributions and clarify the rules so that in future, clear attempts to exceed contribution limits, and disrespect campaign finance rules, will be prevented.”

Moore-Kilgannon alleged that Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen and associate minister of Transparency Don Scott breached the act by contributing to each others campaigns. He said the politicians effectively “doubled down” by contributing the maximum $2,000 to their own campaigns and the same amount to each other.

Both MLAs denied the allegations.

“We were very careful to make sure that we were compliant,” Allen said. “We don’t believe that we have contravened the act in any way at all, either the intent or the letter of the law.” He added that if elections officials say otherwise, they will comply.

Scott said he has already cleared his donations with elections officials. “I don’t believe there’s any substance to the allegations that have been made,” he said.

“Elections Alberta told me that I am in compliance with the act.”

Moore-Kilgannon also alleged that Service Alberta Minister Manmeet Bhullar accepted $12,000 in donations from Solo Liquor Stores and its subsidiaries, far above the $2,000 a single person or company can donate to a candidate, and over the $10,000 limit that any person or company can give to a single party.

Bhullar said he takes the allegations seriously but is confident his contributions will be cleared by elections officials.

“I’ve checked with my campaign team and, again, they said we’ve received six individual donations from six separate corporations that file six different tax returns,” Bhullar said.

“If there’s something beyond that, I will be in touch with the chief electoral officer. Obviously I will abide by his guidance.”

If anything is amiss, he said, he will refund the money.

Elections Alberta spokesman Drew Westwater said he couldn’t comment on allegations contained in the letter but that all serious accusations such as these are investigated by the office.

“In this case, it is certainly something we would look into,” Westwater said.

He noted that it is not illegal for candidates to donate to each other, and it is not illegal for several people from the same company to donate to a candidate, so long as the contributions come out of the individual donor’s pocket and are not reimbursed by the company.

The outcome of the investigation will not be made public, pursuant to privacy rules in Alberta’s elections laws.

By The Canadian Press September 6, 2012

CALGARY — A spate of small earthquakes in B.C.’s remote northeastern corner were caused by a controversial technique used to extract natural gas from shale rock, says a report by the province’s energy regulator.

The B.C. Oil and Gas Commission launched its probe after a “number of anomalous, low-level seismic events” were detected in the Horn River Basin, a gas-rich shale formation that’s attracted some of the industry’s biggest players.

“The investigation has concluded that the events observed within remote and isolated areas of the Horn River Basin between 2009 and 2011 were caused by fluid injection during hydraulic fracturing in proximity to pre-existing faults,” the agency said in a recent report.

In order to break the rock and free the gas trapped inside of it, operators inject a combination of water, sand and chemicals underground at high pressure.

The process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has drawn concern from environmentalists and landowners for the amount of water the process requires and for potential contamination of groundwater.

Studies have also linked fracking to earthquakes around shale formations in England and Oklahoma.

The 38 events detected by Natural Resources Canada ranged between magnitudes of 2.2 and 3.8 on the Richter scale. A quake of between 4.0 and 4.9 is considered “light” and may cause a noticeable shaking of indoor items and rattling noises.

Another 234 events were picked up by industry-deployed devices in the area that are capable of picking up much smaller shakes than Natural Resources Canada’s equipment can.

“We wanted to make sure that we knew what was causing the events and we wanted to make sure that the events would pose no risk to safety or the environment,” said Ken Paulson, chief operating officer at the commission.

Only one quake was felt at the surface near where the fracking was taking place.

“There was no risk posed to public safety or environment by any of the events that were looked at as part of this investigation,” said Paulson.

The report said more than 8,000 fracking completions have been performed in northeastern B.C. that haven’t been associated with unusual seismic activity.

The report said no quakes were recorded in the area prior to April 2009.

It said all of the events began after fracking took place. The quakes happened within five kilometres of fracking operations and within 300 metres of the depth at which the rock was being fractured.

Among other things, the report recommends improvements in seismic detection in the area, further study to identify pre-existing fault lines and stronger monitoring and reporting procedures.

It also calls for an examination of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing parameters and seismic activity. For instance, lower pump rates or injection volumes may be considered.

Geoscience BC is providing funding to update the seismographic grid network in the area to boost monitoring. The commission is also undertaking further study with the University of British Columbia.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers welcomed the report’s recommendations, acknowledging that seismic activity associated with oil and gas extraction is of concern to the public.

Dave Collyer, president of the energy industry group, said natural gas companies provided the commission with data for its study and support its conclusions. The industry is finalizing guidelines for operators and is financially supporting more seismic monitoring in the region.

“Continuing our record of no harm to people or structures is paramount, as is supporting geoscience that can assure landowners and the public hydraulic fracturing can and will continue safely.”

By Darcy Henton, Calgary Herald September 5, 2012 9:00 AM

Alberta’s premier and her minister of international and intergovernmental relations announced respective trips to Asia and Europe Tuesday, running up the cost of cabinet travel this year to nearly $380,000 just days after the government conceded the deficit is ballooning.

Premier Alison Redford, who recently returned from an $84,000 trip to the London Olympics, is headed to Asia for the second time this year at an estimated cost of $66,895.

International and Intergovernmental Relations Minister Cal Dallas is off to Scotland, Germany and Italy at a cost of $41,645, the government said Tuesday. Upon their return, the pair will have racked up travel bills of more than $360,000 between them this year on 10 international trips.

The premier’s spokesman, Jay O’Neill, defended the expenses as necessary for opening new markets for Alberta.

“As a government we have business to take care of,” he said.

But critics expressed shock at the size of the travel bill and the signal it sends to Albertans who’ve been warned to expect a deficit more than triple the $886 million forecast last February.

They also question whether Albertans get any value for the cost in taxpayer dollars.

Liberal Leader Raj Sherman said Redford should be travelling more frugally to set an example. Travelling around the world in first class seats is “a slap in the face of Albertans,” he said.

“True leadership is leading by example.”

NDP critic David Eggen said jetting around the world doesn’t sit right with Albertans facing the prospect of a $3-billion deficit.

“It sends the wrong message,” he said. “If you are serious about austerity, it starts at the top.”

Wildrose critic Rob Anderson said the exorbitant cost of cabinet travel is likely to anger Albertans who are being asked to lower their expectations in light of the province’s looming financial crunch.

“If this is what belt-tightening looks like I would hate to see the size of their waist line,” he added.

Anderson said it is shocking in light of the controversy earlier this summer over extravagant expense claims made by a senior Alberta Health official.

Scott Hennig, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the Tories need to set priorities to deal with financial realities.

“If you can’t cut down on international travel when you are broke, when can you cut down on it?” he wondered.

But O’Neill said Redford’s second Asia trip was planned last January with the premiers of Saskatchewan and B.C. to promote markets in Western Canada. “Market access is not only important to us but also to premiers of Saskatchewan and B.C.,” he said.

“There are countries that want our energy and want our resources and we’re doing all we can to make sure that happens. We’ve had some foreign investment in the oilsands announced recently … and this is just continuing to drive more interest.”

He rejected opposition calls to curtail travel until the books are balanced.

“They can say what they want,” O’Neill said.

“We have to make sure we’re doing the right thing for Albertans and that is looking at things like market access and that’s working with our counterparts, B.C. and Saskatchewan. … We can’t be worried about what those people are saying about what we’re doing.”

International and Intergov-ernmental Relations spokesman David Sands said that the travel and face-to-face meetings with Chinese officials are already beginning to pay dividends.

“These missions have, and will continue to, bring results to Albertans,” he said in an email.

Sands said in the past five years, Alberta’s exports to China have nearly doubled, jumping from $1.35 billion in 2007 to $2.6 billion in 2011, “thanks in part to Alberta’s ongoing efforts to engage Asia.”

He said meetings between the premier and officials in China have resulted in Chinese oil company executives coming to Calgary for conferences.

“Our continued engagement in these markets demonstrates our commitment and goodwill, the benefits of which we’re already starting to see,” Sands said.

PREMIER ALISON RED-FORD’S 2012 FOREIGN TRAVEL:

London – $84,000*

Asia – $66,895**

Asia – $39,068

Chicago – $23,027

NYC/D.C- $29,541

Virginia/D.C. -$18,967

Washington – $6,251

Total – $267,749

* estimate

** estimate for planned trip in September.

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© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Original source article: Shock over Alison Redford’s travel bills

By Sheila Pratt, Edmonton Journal September 3, 2012

After a bumpy ride this summer, Enbridge will face a tough grilling this week on its $6 billion Northern Gateway project as public hearings enter their final phase in which interveners can challenge the company’s evidence.

Enbridge will square off with unions and First Nations while big oilsands players, including MEG Energy, Cenovus, Suncor, Nexen and Total appear in a joint witness panel. The Alberta government is also prepared to appear for the “questioning” phase of the federal Joint Review Panel hearings to examine the economic benefits of the proposed $6-billion pipeline project to carry Alberta bitumen to Kitimat on the coast of British Columbia for export to China.

Critics like the Alberta Federation of Labour will argue Canada’s refining industry will shrink — with a loss of 8,000 jobs expected — if the pipeline project goes ahead and diverts bitumen feedstock to China. Opponents will also argue there is plenty of room in existing pipelines to handle growing bitumen exports.

Enbridge, however, is “ very confident” going into the hearings as it will finally have a chance to respond to critics, says spokesperson Ivan Giesbrecht, noting the company will speak Tuesday.

“This is our first chance to speak; it’s going to be a rigorous questioning and we welcome that,” Giesbrecht said. “We really feel the project will benefit both provinces and Canada. It’s an opportunity for Canadians to listen in on a very democratic process.”

Enbridge is also required, by noon Tuesday, to submit a highly critical U.S. report on the 2010 Michigan pipeline spill that saw 12,000 barrels of heavy oil spill into Kalamazoo River from its pipeline. Initially, the federal review panel said it would not take the report, but reversed its decision mid-August.

Enbridge’s project — twin pipelines, with one to carry 585,000 barrels of diluted bitumen west and another to carry the diluent — faced growing resistance, starting in late July when B.C. Premier Christy Clark raised the stakes. Her province will not approve the pipeline unless B.C. gets a share of the increased revenues Alberta will gain from shipping more bitumen, she said.

With the project stuck in political hot water, B.C. newspaper tycoon David Black stepped in with a proposal for a $13-billion refinery in Kitimat as a way to bring economic benefit to the province. The oilpatch was not keen on the idea.

Meanwhile, Enbridge came under fire for a smaller spill in late July in Wisconsin. It also hit rough water when it posted a map of the Douglas Channel route into the Kitimat port that left out many islands, rocks and narrow channels that make the route particularly difficult to navigate. Around the same time, the company also announced $500 million in improvements to pipeline safety for the Northern Gateway pipelines which start in Bruderheim northeast of Edmonton. Those include increasing the thickness of the line by 20 per cent, adding 50 per cent more shut-off valves and increasing inspections by 50 per cent.

The Alberta government remains firmly committed to the project to diversify markets for bitumen, said Tim Markle, spokesman for Alberta Energy. Oilsands producers will only get higher world prices when they have access to Asian markets, said Markle, noting the price differential is up to $20 a barrel.

The province will be represented at the hearings by Christopher Holly from Alberta Energy and Skip York of Wood Mackenzie Consulting, the consulting company which predicted the province will lose $72 billion over nine years if the pipeline is not built.

Gil McGowan, leader of the Alberta Federation of Labour, disputes the province’s figures.

“We think this project will kill more jobs than it will create,” said McGowan, noting that Enbridge’s own figures estimate a four-per-cent reduction in refining capacity by 2018 in Canada as a result of the pipeline.

“This isn’t just about losing value-added jobs in the future, it’s now becoming clear that existing jobs in the refining sector are also threatened,” McGowan said.

He said “we will be raising questions” that there is no agreement in the evidence of the proposed pipeline’s impact on refining jobs in Alberta.

Oilsands producers will get higher prices for their product in Asia, but that will only be temporary, McGowan said, noting that China’s industry is state-run so there is no real market pricing.

In a report for Forest Ethics Advocacy, David Hughes, a former geologist with the federal government, says the price differential will be eliminated when the glut at Cushing, Oklahoma in the U.S. Midwest is relieved.

“Once it gets to the Gulf coast, the oil can go around the world and they will be forced to pay world price and that’s important,” said Hughes, adding that could eliminate the need for the Northern Gateway.

Meanwhile, Canadians should talk about whether “we should liquidate our energy resources to sovereign countries like China” or look at longer-term strategies for national energy security, he added.

The hearings begin Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 4485 Gateway Blvd. They run until Saturday Sept. 9, then resume again Sept. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for ten days at the Westwood Inn at 18035 Stony Plain Road.

In November, hearings continue in Prince George to deal with pipeline safety and later in Prince Rupert to deal with marine issues.

Last week, just days before the hearing, Enbridge received approval from the Energy Resources Conservation Board Alberta for a new 400,000-barrel-a-day pipeline to bring bitumen from Fort McMurray to its Edmonton hub. The company says the new Woodland pipeline project is not connected to the Northern Gateway.

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Original source article: Public hearings resume on Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project

By Tamara Gignac, Calgary Herald September 3, 2012

CALGARY — Taber corn is one of Alberta’s edible icons, a vegetable reputed to be five times sweeter than garden variety cobs.

But with praise comes imitation — and that has some southern Alberta farmers fuming. They say too many fraudulent corn pedlars are trying to pass off ordinary corn as the succulent ears from Taber.

Farmers in the Taber area want to see the end of the annual crop of counterfeit corn because they say it disrespects the brand.

“The fear is people will say, ‘I bought this corn, it was Taber and it was terrible,’ ” said David Jensen, president of the Alberta Corn Growers Association.

It’s easy enough to claim corn from British Columbia, Washington or even Ontario is Taber-grown, he noted.

“It’s no different than me making ketchup and telling everyone that it’s Heniz. That’s what these people are doing. They are using our name and reputation for good quality corn and defrauding the public.”

Taber, situated some 270 kilometres south of Calgary, prides itself on producing some of the tastiest corn in the country.

The area’s near perfect growing conditions — a blend of long, warm summer days and cool nights — make the annual harvest a highly-anticipated event.

In some cases in the Edmonton area, sellers are using phrases like “southern Alberta’s finest” in a bid to dupe unsuspecting consumers into buying lower-quality produce.

But the Alberta Corn Growers Association warns people to be wary of such claims. The best way for suspicious shoppers to be certain the corn they’re buying is genuine is to ask vendors to provide a certificate of authenticity that includes the name and phone number of the farm where the produce originated.

“It’s a corporate seal and impossible to duplicate,” Jensen said. “I field hundreds of calls about this. It’s the only way our association can police it.”

If caught, phoney corn pedlars face penalties under the Fair Trading Act. That could mean fines of up to $100,000 and possibly jail time.

But it’s not always easy to tell the difference between a legitimate cob and a mere imitation. Geography is also a thorny issue.

“What constitutes Taber corn? Is it just within Taber proper, or does Barnwell count? These are the kinds of things that make it difficult to authenticate,” said Service Alberta spokesman Gerald Kastendieck.

“It’s a challenge to prove and difficult to prosecute.”

Making matters worse, complaints sometimes arise after corn enthusiasts have already consumed the suspect cob.

“It makes it hard to verify,” Kastendieck said.

Brad Jensen has a weekday job in Calgary but sells Taber corn at a handful of locations in Airdrie.

His advice to consumers? Stick to trusted vendors who can prove they work with Taber farmers.

“If you want good quality corn, find a stand that gives you fresh stuff and stay there. If you’re going to some fly-by-night stand on the side of the road, you might get stung,” he said.

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© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Wednesday, 29 August 2012 20:00 Gauthier, Gerald

Trevor Busch
SOUTHERN ALBERTA NEWSPAPERS – TABER
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen headed a delegation touring irrigation districts and value-added industries in southern Alberta Wednesday.
During a lunch stop in Taber, McQueen briefly described the morning’s aerial tour of irrigation districts and works in the region.
“We’re here as MLAs, coming to have a tour of southern Alberta, certainly to have a tour of the irrigation districts. We had a chance to do a fly-over, so that myself, and our colleagues, can have the opportunity to see on the ground what it looks like. We’ve finished the tour of the irrigation districts, and now we’re on a ground tour as well.”
Included as part of the delegation were the extreme south’s only PC MLAs, Lethbridge West’s Greg Weadick and Lethbridge East’s Bridget Pastoor, as well as MLA(s) David Dorward, Rick Fraser, Linda Johnson and Maureen Kubinec, from other areas of the province.
McQueen noted in terms of southern Alberta’s extensive relationship with irrigation, seeing really is believing, and that it is important for new MLAs to gain a working knowledge of this vital aspect of Alberta’s economy.
In the afternoon, the government delegation visited the LambWeston Potato Processing as well as the Lantic Sugar Plant in Taber, both important value-added agricultural ventures in the area, before finishing the tour with a stop at Bayer Crop Science in Coaldale.
“That’s a great opportunity for us,” said McQueen, referring to the opportunity to see some value-added industries. “We talk a lot as MLAs, and as government, and Albertans, about adding more value in the province. And so when we come and get the chance to tour some of the opportunities that are here, it gives us the opportunity to see the importance of value-added first hand and to grow our agriculture industry in the value-added area – be it sugar, or potatoes, whatever that happens to be – it’s important for us to be able to come and see and talk to those that are producers.”
McQueen touched on the importance of water conservation in the province and the effective job irrigation districts have done in making it a reality.
“The irrigation districts should really be commended for the work that they have done, and continue to do, to conserve water, to make sure that water is being stored well. So they’ve come a long way, and that’s certainly something that we’ve learned, but also that they’ve learned. Especially in an enclosed basin in the south here, it’s so important that we make sure that every drop counts, and that we conserve wherever we can, and they’re doing an excellent job in doing that. In times when we have drought, they’re there to share with others as well, so that’s very important.”
The tour group also included a number of staff members of the Alberta Irrigation Products Association (AIPA) as well as high-ranking bureaucrats from the Ministries of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Municipal Affairs, and Agriculture and Rural Development.