Another BS Bill by Harper

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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Compare the US Laws on spills. Does Harper think we are all dumb?
Unlimited liability should be the law. Acts of God are and will leave the taxpayer on the hook.

Canada raises liability for offshore oil spills to $1-billion - The Globe and Mail

The federal government will raise the bar for oil companies operating off the East Coast and in the Arctic, increasing the limit on their liability for environmental and other damage from a blowout or oil spill to $1-billion.

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said the $1-billion cap – up from $30-million in the Atlantic and $40-million in the Arctic – is part of the government’s “polluter pays” approach to resource development. But environmental groups complain it could still leave taxpayers on the hook for massive costs, noting the cleanup from BP PLC’s Gulf of Mexico spill has cost more than $40-billion.

The government’s announcement comes as Enbridge Inc. is pushing back against the national energy regulator’s demand to have nearly $1-billion in liability coverage set aside for the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project. Enbridge instead is calling for an industry-financed fund that would cover cleanup costs resulting from a “catastrophic oil release” from a pipeline.

The government’s proposed $1-billion cap for offshore drilling would apply to “no fault” liability, while operators would continue to face unlimited liability should they be found to be at fault or negligent. Companies will also be required for the first time to demonstrate to the regulators their financial capacity to cover $1-billion in cleanup costs should it become necessary.

At the same time, a blowout in Canadian waters could be extremely damaging and expensive to contain, given the harsh conditions, the remoteness of operations and the lack of the kind of equipment that was readily available to BP as it sought to battle the Macondo blowout in 2009.

Oceans North Canada researcher Chris Debicki said the proposal is “a step in the right direction,” and will highlight the risks of drilling in the Arctic. “But it’s impossible to put an economic figure on ecosystem destruction,” said Mr. Debicki, whose group is part of the Pew Charitable Trust.

The offshore oil industry has long been expecting the increased liability, and can work within it though it may affect smaller companies that want to explore in shallow waters, said Paul Barnes, manager for Atlantic Canada for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

“It’s something that we had been anticipating and we are seeing governments around the world undertake similar initiatives to modernize and make improvements to their regulatory regime, especially in light of disasters that have occurred in recent times,” Mr. Barnes said. “There is nothing in it that really concerns us.”
 

L Gilbert

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I'd even be happy if the company who is liable has insurance hat pays a chunk besides the company itself paying a chunk. As long as we aren't holding a part of the bag. Just commented about the CN Rail spillage at Wabamoon (sp?) Lake. CN paid $28 million and its insurance paid the rest.
 

Goober

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Jan 23, 2009
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I'd even be happy if the company who is liable has insurance hat pays a chunk besides the company itself paying a chunk. As long as we aren't holding a part of the bag. Just commented about the CN Rail spillage at Wabamoon (sp?) Lake. CN paid $28 million and its insurance paid the rest.

If and it can come down to negligence at the lower levels, to known negligent procedures that are well known with in the Company, then jail terms would be appropriate. After all Harper is a Law & Order man.
 

Palindrome

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May 14, 2013
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Don't worry about the amount of liability. Even the billion will never be collected.
 

Machjo

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Free markets are a two-way street. You want to be able to exploit resources, then you are on the hook for your own mess, end of story. We can't have it both ways, capitalism when things go well and then socialism when things go bad. Make up your minds.

I say unlimited liability like any wise conservative would.

Don't worry about the amount of liability. Even the billion will never be collected.

That's why you make it a requirement for any such company to make a deposit with the government. If the company decides to close shop and nevr had a spill, the money is returned with interest. No loss on the government's part, and none on the company's, as long as there is no mess to clean up in the end. Gives the company a bit of a wee incentive there.