Energy

Analysts and observers say they remain perplexed by Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s comment last week that "plenty of investors would be interested in taking on this project," after the federal government said it would offer an "indemnity" or insurance to guarantee it is built.

Shannon Phillips made the comments at a summit near Ottawa last week on women climate leaders, in response to questions over how her government plans to deal with recent surveys showing some public skepticism over the threat of climate change and the benefits of putting a price on carbon pollution.

Terry Beech shows up in casual clothes on a Friday a few metres away from a gate at the limits of Kinder Morgan’s property, watching as waves of residents from the southwestern British Columbia community of Powell River risk arrest by lining up to block incoming traffic. He says that 58 per cent of his constituents told his office in a recent survey that they oppose the project.

The documents are the latest files to emerge in a legal review surrounding the unfolding Trans Mountain pipeline expansion saga, as a critical deadline approaches. The Texas-based company behind the project, Kinder Morgan, has said it will walk away from the pipeline if it fails to find a way — before May 31 — to resolve the financial risks it is facing due to fierce opposition in B.C.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna's comments follow concerns flagged by scientists, First Nations and British Columbia about the environmental risk of spills of diluted bitumen, the tar-like heavy oil produced by Alberta's oilsands companies, that will be sent along Trans Mountain.

Saskatchewan's former premier offered rare praise for the Trudeau government Wednesday, as well as hard questions for the future of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as British Columbia Premier John Horgan's government continues to challenge the project.

As the federal government doubles down on support for Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain expansion project, Transport Minister Marc Garneau is strengthening the oceans protection plan that aims to keep British Columbia's waters free of oil spills.

Quebec Environment Minister Isabelle Melançon is urging her federal counterpart not to cave in to the Trump administration's efforts to water down tailpipe pollution regulations for vehicles.

The Alberta government says it is creating the world's largest boreal forest preserve with new wildland parks in the province's northeast.

Scientist David Suzuki says he welcomes the healthy debate generated by the honorary degree he will soon receive from the University of Alberta for his environmental work.

Canada and an American energy company want a First Nation in British Columbia to pay for their legal fees following ‘significant’ delay and prejudice to a stalled pipeline expansion project.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Wednesday he is prepared to protect the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion to the west coast against financial loss. The Trudeau government has been in discussions with Alberta as well as the proponent of Trans Mountain, Kinder Morgan, over an arrangement to use public money to back the pipeline.​

Kinder Morgan’s fanfare announcement is a cover-up. Trans Mountain pipeline expansion lacked commercial viability from the get-go. It has required government supported handouts at every stage of development. Kinder Morgan has put very little shareholder capital at risk. It has always looked to others — the shippers, Canadian investors and Canadian taxpayers — to do so.

As politicians squabble over bitumen, First Nations demonstrate clean energy alternatives. Using old pipeline materials to create clean energy and pushing forward an historic tribal parks program, this coastal British Columbia Nation is a force to be reckoned with.

The federal Transport Department is refusing to explain why it rejected a marine safety concern flagged by the B.C. government in 2016 that was related to the Trans Mountain pipeline and oil tanker expansion project.