Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index
Environment and sustainability
Ever since mid May, when a special committee of the provincial legislature was appointed to address a looming “timber supply” crisis, questions have arisen about what the committee would say about one community in particular.
That community is Burns Lake where, in January, a violent explosion and fire leveled the local sawmill – the village’s major employer – killing two mill workers and doing another 250 out of their jobs.
On the day the Fast Facts titled Will the Province Protect the Little Saskatchewan River was published (July 5, 2012), the Daly Irrigation Development Group (DIDG) was granted Environment Act license No. 3010. Two days earlier a formal request, specifying numerous concerns, had been made of Gord Macintosh, Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship to deny the license.
In 2009, British Gas, a leader in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, submitted a voluminous environmental assessment report for a massive new gas processing plant and export terminal in Australia’s Queensland state.
The plant, now under construction and scheduled to open in 2014, will produce just slightly more gas than two proposed LNG projects that have passed environmental reviews and been granted approvals to export processed gas from the Kitimat area on British Columbia’s central north coast.
The beautiful Little Saskatchewan River (LSR), recognized as a unique habitat for endangered, at-risk and common species, winds its way through Keesekoowenin First Nation and the towns of Minnedosa, Rapid City and Rivers in southwest Manitoba. It empties into the Assiniboine River about 6 miles west of the City of Brandon’s water supply intake, from its headwaters at Riding Mountain National Park. Three dams divide the river, providing recreational lakes, fisheries and drinking water.
On January 20, the town of Burns Lake received national attention when a horrific explosion and ensuing inferno at the local sawmill killed two mill workers, and triggered the loss of 250 high-paying jobs.
But the town itself was wrestling with deep troubles well before then. The problems were evident years ago, when the forested slopes visible from the town centre turned a rusty red, as the then epic mountain pine beetle infestation raced through British Columbia’s interior forests.
Premier Clark's recent decision to cap the BC Hydro rate increases next year may have ratepayers breathing a sigh of relief. But it’s a short term fix that will only delay addressing the major financial challenges now facing our Crown utility. Once the 2013 election is over, whoever forms BC's new government will inherit an enormous problem.
(Vancouver) A new study warns that mining, oil and gas corporations are putting increasingly large demands on BC’s hydroelectricity system – essentially using clean energy to power industries that pollute the environment and release large amounts of greenhouse gases. While the study sounds an alarm, it also presents a positive alternative vision.
Update, July 18, 2012: The day after we released this study, the provincial government made two announcements that relate closely to our findings. Please download Clean Electricity — UPDATE via the link below.
Right now, BC households and small businesses will pay more and more for electricity as the demand from mining, oil and gas companies continues to grow. But this study presents a positive alternative vision, and argues that BC is capable of meeting future energy needs and reducing GHGs at the same time.