Alberta should create oilsands commission: panel

[mentalfloss]

We already hold our government and the industry to really high degree of responsibility. I fail to see what one more body of bureaucrats will do to solve the issue. It's just another example of trying to 'buy' a healthy environment. It won't do a damn thing, except waste a lot of money.

The problem is not really a layer of bureaucracy as much as that layer is influenced by the existing government. The committee would still be controlled by the conservative government which defeats the whole purpose of regulation. Whatever happens, the government needs to adhere to environmentally sound principles (that are legitimate).

Right now, it's undeniable that both the industry and government are getting away with too much.

We still do not know the full extent of the damage being caused by emissions due to the oil sands. Neither oil companies nor the Government of Alberta report the amount of emissions released from forests destroyed in the process of developing oil extraction sites. This means that greenhouse gas emissions from Alberta's oil sands operations are worse than reported.

Alberta is also proud to be the first jurisdiction in Canada to put a price on carbon emissions. Unfortunately, the price only applies to large emitters and the overall goal is to reduce industrial greenhouse gas pollution intensity (rather than absolute emissions). In the case of the oil sands, where industrial production is continuing to increase, reductions in GHG intensity do not deliver reductions in actual emissions.

FACT: "Roughly 500 square kilometres of land surrounding current oil sands operations are at risk from acidifying emissions from current and approved projects. This will increase to 1,000 km2 if all planned projects go forward."

Why so much focus on oil sands? | Alberta Acts

 

[petros]

Yes, they ARE.

Did you stomp your foot when you typed that?

Do you know what libel is? I hope you end up on the no-fly list.

So in conclusion, since terrorists do not pose a threat to the oil sands, we should definitely hold our government more responsible for their dirty deeds.

Alberta is nothing compared to what is happening to the Orinoco and the entire Island of Madagascar. 500,000+ square kilometres of rain forest complely devistated in Madagascar and left barren compared to 141,000 square kilometres or Boreal forest that is being recovered.

Where are the tree huggers on that issue?

The Bemolanga field, one of the world's largest untapped oil sands fields, could also be more energy - and carbon - intensive than equivalent projects in Alberta. The project would use open-cast mining to dig out the oily sand and rock. Because the material's bitumen content is lower at 5.5% – compared with 11% in Alberta – it would be harder to separate. However, it is thought that a higher proportion of the oil in Bemolanga could be recovered than in Alberta, so this would reduce the comparative energy intensity.

 

[mentalfloss]

Alberta is nothing compared to what is happening to the Orinoco and the entire Island of Madagascar. 500,000+ square kilometres of rain forest complely devistated in Madagascar and left barren compared to 141,000 square kilometres or Boreal forest that is being recovered.

Where are the tree huggers on that issue?

Terrible red herring.

There's no denying it. We have to sacrifice the monies for the environment.

 

[petros]

There are no herring any where near the Athabasca fields. I doubt there isn any left around Madagascar.

 

[karrie]

Yes, they ARE.

Alright. Show me the stats for Sikh terrorist attacks on Canadian soil, versus Anglo-Saxon terrorist attacks on Canadian soil.

 

[mentalfloss]

There are no herring any where near the Athabasca fields. I doubt there isn any left around Madagascar.

I'm sure Madagascar has its own set of critics. This does not, and should not distract anyone from the oil sands.

 

[karrie]

The problem is not really a layer of bureaucracy as much as that layer is influenced by the existing government. The committee would still be controlled by the conservative government which defeats the whole purpose of regulation. Whatever happens, the government needs to adhere to environmentally sound principles (that are legitimate).

Right now, it's undeniable that both the industry and government are getting away with too much.


Why so much focus on oil sands? | Alberta Acts

You're never going to convince Canadians as a whole, to add more layers of environmental protection, because, plain and simply, they're not willing to pay for it. And the government ends up having to straddle the fine line between feeding their energy hungry populace, protecting the environment, and keeping businesses prosperous so that the taxes keep flowing.

 

[petros]

I'm sure Madagascar has its own set of critics. This does not, and should not distract anyone from the oil sands.

These are oil sands too. Who holds the tech and know how to make Madagascar happen?

It's all clear cut and ready to go. The deep sea port for tankers is underway.

Get on the horn to Ottawa and stop theose nasty Canadians from decimating Madagascar.

Then once the oil is out of the way they can strip mine for the gold a little deeper down.

No forest restoration but lots of banana, pineapple, coco and latex plantations.