FP: Northern Gateway hearings in Alberta cancelled after failing to draw participants

Kakato

Time Out
Jun 10, 2009
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Interesting that you should mention the coal protests. How many know that the huge Spit at Union Bay is made from Coal and slag, deposited there many decades back to act as a Coal loading base and nobody noticed any environmental impact. No problems with fishing or shellfish which has gone on steadily all this time.
How about several rivers and streams that flow into that area and have run through Coal seams forever? Seems the Coal seams also exist under water and have done for eons, oops we are all dead and did not know it :roll:

The NDP took BC for granted a couple times in the past and then found out how many non socialists it took to vote their commerce destroying asses out of office.

Most of southern B.C.'s fresh water has flown over a coal seam at the headwaters where the coal is,underground creeks and rivers allways flow on top of coal seams as it is impermeable.When exploration drilling for coal in the Elk Valley you could allways tell just before you hit one of the 12 seams as there was allways water on top and we would have to trip out the hammer and run a rock bit back down the hole to finish.
I could also drink the water coming out of the hole,it was cold and sweet!

This is just a pipeline,I find it amuseing that most that are against it have no idea what go's on when a pipeline is laid in the ground or how many hundreds of thousands of kilometers of line are allready in the ground with no problems.

Canada has some of the best and brightest in the industry where pipelines are involved,we all need energy to live,I cant fathom why some want this resource thats going to benefit all of Canada put on hold.
 
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gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
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I'm having a problem with this.

"Alternative $5 billion investments in green jobs and industries would create between 3
and 34
times the number of direct jobs."

That looks more like a set of numbers pulled out of someones ass.
 

Cabbagesandking

Council Member
Apr 24, 2012
1,041
0
36
Ontario
I'm having a problem with this.

"Alternative $5 billion investments in green jobs and industries would create between 3
and 34
times the number of direct jobs."

That looks more like a set of numbers pulled out of someones ass.

Presumably, it meanss depending on the mix that the investment is in. Some create more than others.

Also, there is no hard and fast definition of what a 'Green' job is. Perhaps 3 means in ways that have no emissions and 14 is in less reducing ways.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
83
maybe, perhaps, and there's no hard and fast definition of what a green job is? Then, I would say, it's all bullshyte then.
 

beaker

Electoral Member
Jun 11, 2012
508
0
16
thepeacecountry
I was going through Petros' reply to my last post with the idea of responding to it but at the risk of repeating myself, I will just ask again, Can nothing be done for the poor guy? Or about him?

Quote: Originally Posted by taxslave

"You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Or would you rather starve society back into the stone age?"

More with the freezing in the dark routine from the seventies. Ok say you are making an omelette with someone elses eggs and you don't figure the cost of them into the price you want for the omelette. Do you come out ahead?

Most of southern B.C.'s fresh water has flown over a coal seam at the headwaters where the coal is,underground creeks and rivers allways flow on top of coal seams as it is impermeable.When exploration drilling for coal in the Elk Valley you could allways tell just before you hit one of the 12 seams as there was allways water on top and we would have to trip out the hammer and run a rock bit back down the hole to finish.
I could also drink the water coming out of the hole,it was cold and sweet!

This is just a pipeline,I find it amuseing that most that are against it have no idea what go's on when a pipeline is laid in the ground or how many hundreds of thousands of kilometers of line are allready in the ground with no problems.

Canada has some of the best and brightest in the industry where pipelines are involved,we all need energy to live,I cant fathom why some want this resource thats going to benefit all of Canada put on hold.

charcoal filters have been a big deal for quite a while now. So I think you are right, a bitumen/tar/oil spill from the Northern Gateway or in the shipping lanes would be a whole different story compared to a coal spill.

But I don't see where anyone is criticizing the capability or the work of the builders of pipelines. I think it shows the problem from the spills and leaks that have been in the news lately that it takes a while for most pipe and the structural support around it to lose integrity. And the people and companies that are building these things now won't be there thirty years from now, they won't be responsible when something blows, they will so to speak, have taken the money and run. Where does that leave the environment, or the people who depend on it for their living?
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
120,199
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Low Earth Orbit
charcoal filters have been a big deal for quite a while now. So I think you are right, a bitumen/tar/oil spill from the Northern Gateway or in the shipping lanes would be a whole different story compared to a coal spill.
What is charcoal? What is activated carbon? What is lignite?
 

Kakato

Time Out
Jun 10, 2009
4,929
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38
Alberta/N.W.T./Sask/B.C
What is charcoal? What is activated carbon? What is lignite?
I did 18 months drilling test holes in coal seams,you allways knew when you were within a meter of a coal seam as the underground creeks always flowed on top of them.Enough water in most cases you had to trip out the hammer bit and run down a tricone as the compressor couldn't handle the reverse circulation and run the hammer.

I was going through Petros' reply to my last post with the idea of responding to it but at the risk of repeating myself, I will just ask again, Can nothing be done for the poor guy? Or about him?

Quote: Originally Posted by taxslave

"You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Or would you rather starve society back into the stone age?"

More with the freezing in the dark routine from the seventies. Ok say you are making an omelette with someone elses eggs and you don't figure the cost of them into the price you want for the omelette. Do you come out ahead?



charcoal filters have been a big deal for quite a while now. So I think you are right, a bitumen/tar/oil spill from the Northern Gateway or in the shipping lanes would be a whole different story compared to a coal spill.

But I don't see where anyone is criticizing the capability or the work of the builders of pipelines. I think it shows the problem from the spills and leaks that have been in the news lately that it takes a while for most pipe and the structural support around it to lose integrity. And the people and companies that are building these things now won't be there thirty years from now, they won't be responsible when something blows, they will so to speak, have taken the money and run. Where does that leave the environment, or the people who depend on it for their living?

We have 7 where we used to have one inspector,with all the press lately the outfit im with is doing lots of dig ups on lines older then ten years,they dig up and cut out a small section of pipe to test in the lab.labourers are now being told to also inspect any pipe before going in the ground and they are being trained so that they know that even the smallest nick or scratch in a pipe will result in early failure.
Testing is really ramped up the last few months so that's not a bad thing,I wish I was privy to the test results but that's probably top secret right now.

As an inspector you are also liable and can wind up in jail for negligence even years later.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,342
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Vancouver Island
So cook your omelette on a stove powered by renewwable energies and help get society out of the stoneheaded age.

Hydro is a renewable power source. Which is the way 99% of our electricity is generated.

I'm having a problem with this.

"Alternative $5 billion investments in green jobs and industries would create between 3
and 34
times the number of direct jobs."

That looks more like a set of numbers pulled out of someones ass.

So welfare recipient is now a job description?
 

beaker

Electoral Member
Jun 11, 2012
508
0
16
thepeacecountry
We have 7 where we used to have one inspector,with all the press lately the outfit im with is doing lots of dig ups on lines older then ten years,they dig up and cut out a small section of pipe to test in the lab.labourers are now being told to also inspect any pipe before going in the ground and they are being trained so that they know that even the smallest nick or scratch in a pipe will result in early failure.
Testing is really ramped up the last few months so that's not a bad thing,I wish I was privy to the test results but that's probably top secret right now.

As an inspector you are also liable and can wind up in jail for negligence even years later.

It is good that the inspections have greatly improved, but you point out that it is a result of all the spills lately. The bad press when Enbridge is going through Hearings for Northern Gateway and other pipelines are being proposed as well, means that the governments and companies involved are being extra vigilant. But when the spotlight dies down, when the oil and gas aren't as important either because we get towaeds the end of a particular field, or the alternatives are taking a larger share of the market, that vigilance will drop off. And that is when the pipeline will be getting dangerous.

Here is some info from a community meeting that wasn't cancelled due to poor turnout.

Caledonia Courier - Municipality takes a stand against Northern Gateway

"In one more case of recent bad news for Enbridge, Fort St. James mayor and council voted unanimously to take a stand against Northern Gateway.

The special meeting, held tonight, July 31, included the results of the recent public opinion surveys from the community on the proposed pipeline. A number of community members sat waiting for the final decision and after over a half hour of proceeding business, the results were brought forward.

After the results were summarized for the room, council seemed very clear in their direction, with little discussion proceeding the final vote on the motion to oppose the project.

"We've taken a lot of delegations, a lot of presentations, we've tried our best to educate ourselves.

I think we've done everything that we can to include the community, we've done surveys, opportunities for people to speak one on one with councillors," said Councillor Riley Willick. "I would personally feel comfortable to take a position on [the project] as a district."

"I concur," said Councillor Rus Gingrich.

Willick then introduced the motion to come out in opposition to the proposed Northern Gateway Project, which Councillor Joan Burdeniuk seconded and subsequently passed unanimously.

"Thank-you," said Mayor Rob MacDougall, which was then answered from the audience by Brenda Gouglas: "No, thank you," she said and members of the public applauded in the audience.

A formal announcement will be made, and so far, the District of Fort St. James appears to be the first municipality along the direct pipeline route to come out in public opposition to the 1,177 km twin pipeline proposed to carry diluted bitumen between northern Alberta and Kitimat, B.C.."
 

Cabbagesandking

Council Member
Apr 24, 2012
1,041
0
36
Ontario
maybe, perhaps, and there's no hard and fast definition of what a green job is? Then, I would say, it's all bullshyte then.

How do you reach that conclusion when at a minimum there would be three times as many jobs?

Actually, if you look at the piece that was cited, there are charts that do explain it. I have not looked carefully at them since it really is not too relevant. The huge benefit is clear whatever the actual number. THat number will be different in different localities since the most suitable resource will vary.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,342
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Vancouver Island
86.3 per cent and the rest is from nat gas.

Where are the wind, geo-thermal and tidal sources in BC?

Slightly above zero. There are some bio fuel generators around the interior. Don't know how much of their power is sold and how much is used by the companies themselves. Harmac pulpmill is re rigging one of their biofuel generators to sell power.
There is supposed to be a small tidal system go in at a resort on Sonora island. Don't know the status of it at this time. Last I heard the greenies were putting up an opposition to it. A few small wind farms are operating and I know of one being built on the north end of the island. Being built by the local band(read taxpayer)
Hard to build anything in BC anymore. There is always someone protesting any development.
One of the smarter proposals that for some unexplainable reason is going nowhere fast is to take Vancouver's garbage to the former pulp mill at Gold River and burn it in the existing generator.
 

beaker

Electoral Member
Jun 11, 2012
508
0
16
thepeacecountry
How do you reach that conclusion when at a minimum there would be three times as many jobs?

Actually, if you look at the piece that was cited, there are charts that do explain it. I have not looked carefully at them since it really is not too relevant. The huge benefit is clear whatever the actual number. THat number will be different in different localities since the most suitable resource will vary.

There have been numbers like this reported for some years, I remember a calculation that the industries involved in conservation employ 7 times the number of people hired compared to new generation construction, to produce the same energy, for the same number of dollars.

taxslave complains that people are protesting any new construction, but I have never heard of a group opposed to efficient energy use. Other than the oil companies that is.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,342
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Vancouver Island
There have been numbers like this reported for some years, I remember a calculation that the industries involved in conservation employ 7 times the number of people hired compared to new generation construction, to produce the same energy, for the same number of dollars.

taxslave complains that people are protesting any new construction, but I have never heard of a group opposed to efficient energy use. Other than the oil companies that is.
There have been protests against burning city garbage to create electricity. What could possibly be more green than that?

The greenies in Campbell River had several major protests against a wind farm off Cape Mudge because they were afraid it might lower their property values.
There are many people in Victoria that would self describe as green that are against having their sewage treated.
Some of them around Fanny Bay protested against Oyster Farms that were there long before these people built their fancy houses on the grounds that the floats were unsightly and harvesting at night interfered with their new found lifestyle.
 

beaker

Electoral Member
Jun 11, 2012
508
0
16
thepeacecountry
There have been protests against burning city garbage to create electricity. What could possibly be more green than that?

The greenies in Campbell River had several major protests against a wind farm off Cape Mudge because they were afraid it might lower their property values.
There are many people in Victoria that would self describe as green that are against having their sewage treated.
Some of them around Fanny Bay protested against Oyster Farms that were there long before these people built their fancy houses on the grounds that the floats were unsightly and harvesting at night interfered with their new found lifestyle.

I don't think there is anyone who isn't going to be nimby if the reason is good enough or the problem large enough. And there are some who oppose change period, but people have the right to see that he environment is given due consideration in any decision. The trouble with the Conservative handling of the Hearings into the Northern Gateway proposal, is that they have tried to limit people rights to address the Joint Review Panel with their concerns.

Some Hearings were cancelled, in Edmonton and Calgary because there weren't enough people coming forward to speak. We don't know what happened to those people who did want to speak, or whether or not there just wasn't anyone who came forward to speak in favour of the proposal. The Conservatives have to let a democratic process occur, or more people will just be ticked off worse.