Alberta News

Alberta, Ottawa agree to reducing oilsands environment monitoring By Karen Graham Edmonton - Alberta has signed an agreement with the federal government that makes major cuts to environmental monitoring of the oilsands, putting monitoring of the Athabasca River and habitats at risk.

Upcoming national election is crucial for Canada’s energy sector By Karen Graham Ontario - Energy and the environment is arguably the key policy area that will decide the election—and most agree the outcome of the vote will, in turn, be crucial for Canada’s energy sector.

Amnesty International condemns Alberta's 'fight-back' strategy By Karen Graham Global human rights organization Amnesty International condemned the Alberta government’s “fight back” strategy Tuesday, warning Alberta Premier Jason Kenney that his government’s fight against oil and gas industry foes puts human rights at risk.

Op-Ed: Kenney accuses foreign groups of funding anti-oilsands groups By Karen Graham Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced Thursday that the government will spend $2.5 million on a year-long public inquiry into what he described as a foreign-funded defamation campaign by environmental groups against Alberta’s oil and gas industry.

Federal carbon tax coming to Alberta starting January 1 By Karen Graham Ottawa plans to impose the federal carbon tax on Alberta starting Jan. 1 and federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says she has written the province about the decision.

Fires burning out of control in Alberta linked to climate crisis By Karen Graham The Chuckegg Creek Fire in Northern Alberta has grown to 280,000 hectares (691,895 acres) and is just one of about 10 wildfires burning out of control in a region of the old-growth boreal forest.

B.C. readies for court battle as Alberta threatens to cut off oil By Karen Graham Alberta Premier Jason Kenney reached out to British Columbians frustrated by high gasoline prices at a news conference in Edmonton Wednesday to confirm Bill 12 has been enacted into law.

New premier of Canada's Alberta to roll back environmental protections By AFP Ottawa - The new conservative leader of Canada's oil-rich Alberta province said Wednesday he will nix its carbon tax, opening up a new battlefront with liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of October national elections.

Canada conservatives win Alberta polls in blow to Trudeau By AFP Ottawa - Canada's opposition conservatives won a clear victory in provincial elections in oil-rich Alberta Tuesday, in a setback for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his environmental policies just six months ahead of national polls.

Canada's oil and gas sector to shrink by over 12,000 jobs By Karen Graham Calgary - Canada’s direct oil and gas workforce has become much leaner, shrinking from a peak of about 226,500 jobs in 2014 to forecasted employment of 173,300 in 2019 - a 23 percent drop over the five-year period, according to a new report released today.

Canada's oil sands still struggling and investors are worried By Karen Graham March has brought a string of setbacks for Canada's struggling tar sands oil industry, including the further delay of two proposed pipelines, a poor forecast for growth and signs that investors may be growing wary.

Enbridge's Line 3 delay a major blow to Canadian oil industry By Karen Graham Enbridge's Line 3 pipeline replacement is being pushed back a year, the company announced Friday. The project, which was initially expect to be in service before the end of 2019 now won't be ready until the second half of 2020.

Alberta's oil production cuts weigh on economic forecasts By Karen Graham Calgary - Alberta's oil production cuts that went into effect in December, were aimed at shrinking a costly glut of Canadian crude. Now there are concerns that prolonged output cuts will impact the economic performance of the province.

Alberta Premier Notley announces 8.7 percent oil production cut By Karen Graham Alberta - Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has announced a temporary 8.7 percent oil production cut, or decrease of 325,000 barrels a day, in the production of raw crude oil and bitumen starting Jan. 1, 2019.

Alberta buying rail cars as Notley ponders oil production cuts By Karen Graham With global credit ratings at stake, Canadian oil producers are waiting on a decision by Alberta over cutting oil production. The decision should come within days. Premier Rachel Notley has announced a plan to go ahead with buying two oil trains.

Op-Ed: Alberta government policies may have caused the oil price crisis By Karen Graham Alberta - The street outside the Calgary Hyatt was teeming with pro-oil pipeline activists on Thursday while inside the hotel, Justin Trudeau was speaking before a crowd of business people. Alberta's oil crisis is serious — but this may be a self-inflicted wound.

Alberta's carbon tax and higher solar rebates under attack By Karen Graham Solar power in Alberta has grown by 500 percent since 2015, and the province has announced it is increasing rebates for both homeowners and non-profits, as well as putting more money towards solar energy programs. But will this last?

Canada joins Trump in criticizing the blocking of KXL pipeline By Karen Graham Canada’s government is joining President Trump in criticizing a Montana judge’s ruling on Thursday that blocked construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Energy Regulator — Alberta oilpatch cleanup may cost $260 billion By Karen Graham Calgary - Stunning internal documents from Alberta's Energy Regulator estimate the cost to clean up Alberta's oil and gas industry may be $260 billion - $200 billion more than has been publicly reported.

Hemp production increases in Alberta after marijuana legalization By Ken Hanly Edmonton - Industrial hemp production for fiber etc. has been legal for some time. However, the top parts of the plant were not used. They do not contain significant amounts of THC, the chemical that provides the high that many marijuana users seek.

Alberta train derails in Iowa, leaking oil into swollen river By Karen Graham Doon - A freight train derailed in northwest Iowa on Friday, leaking crude oil into flooded fields flanking the tracks and raising concerns about the possible contamination of residential water supplies downstream, officials said.

BC government sues Alberta over plan to restrict fuel shipments By Karen Graham The British Columbia government has filed a lawsuit and is prepared to ask for an injunction and damages against Alberta over that province’s recently passed fuel restriction law that would allow the province to shut off oil and gas shipments to B.C.

Canada moves to protect world's largest expanse of boreal forest By Karen Graham Ottawa - Alberta is now home to the largest area of protected boreal forest in the world, following an announcement Tuesday that set aside more than 13,600 square kilometers (5,251 square miles) of land across much of northeast Alberta.

Alberta tries ads to win hearts and minds of anti-pipeline groups By Karen Graham Alberta has no intention of giving in to the opposition when it comes to the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, as British Columbia residents are now finding out.

Ottawa, Alberta poised for conflict over new methane regulations By Karen Graham Ottawa - In May 2017, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced proposed regulations to reduce methane emissions and air pollution from Canada's oil and gas industry. Today, those rules were published, yet not everyone is happy.

Aurora Cannabis to build production facility in Medicine Hat By Karen Graham Medicine Hat - Aurora Cannabis Inc. today announced it is acquiring approximately 29 hectares (72 acres) of land in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where the Company plans to begin construction on a new high-technology hybrid greenhouse cannabis production facility.

Alberta plan to cut oil shipments will affect all of West Coast By Karen Graham Alberta's plan to shut off oil and gas shipments to British Columbia could have unintended consequences along the entire West Coast of North America, causing a surge in gas prices and shifting the flow of international crude.

Alberta unveils legislation designed to cripple B.C. citizens By Karen Graham Premier John Horgan was assured by Prime Minister Trudeau the federal government would not punish B.C. citizens over the Trans Mountain dispute, but that promise did not include Alberta - which has unveiled legislation that will cripple B.C.

Truck company suspended in investigation of Humboldt bus crash By Karen Graham Calgary - The trucking company that contracted the semi-truck involved in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that killed 15 people and injured 14 others has been suspended pending an investigation.

Alberta plans on imposing 'serious economic consequences' on B.C. By Karen Graham Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says British Columbia’s opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion threatens the rule of law in Canada and says she made it clear in a phone call to B.C. Premier John Horgan that her province is retaliating.

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