Author Archives: Blair

Why a Pragmatic Environmentalist supports the Trans Mountain Pipeline

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Blair

I am a pragmatic environmentalist. I have worked in the environmental field for over twenty-five years. My area of professional expertise is the investigation and remediation of former industrial and commercial sites with a specialty in the assessment of petroleum … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Climate Change, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 42 Comments

The question anti-Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion activists refuse to answer

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Blair

This weekend both pro- and anti-Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX) rallies were held. Sadly I couldn’t attend either. I did take advantage of the interest to try to figure out what was going on in the heads of the people … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 102 Comments

On Jason Kenney’s threat to shut off Vancouver’s gasoline supply

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Blair

In the last week Jason Kenney was on a West Coast swing as part of his continued attempt to replace Rachel Notley as Premier of Alberta. During the trip Mr. Kenney repeatedly threatened to stop the flow of oil to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, General Politics, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

On questionable science about fugitive emissions in the BC natural gas industry

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Blair

I was mostly off-line earlier in the year when two publications came out on fugitive emissions in the British Columbia natural gas industry. These two publications were: Mobile measurement of methane emissions from natural gas developments in northeastern British Columbia, Canada … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

What are the real marine risks of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion?

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Blair

Every morning, starting around 7 am, the Spirit of Vancouver Island leaves its berth in Swartz Bay for its first run to Tsawwassen. On-board the Spirit are tens of thousands of liters of diesel fuel to run the ship for … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Pipelines, Risk Communication, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 26 Comments

On dilbit, oil spill response and political gamesmanship

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Blair

As many of my readers know my day job involves investigating and remediating contaminated sites. My particular specialty is the investigation and remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon impacts [and before anyone asks, no I have never worked for Kinder Morgan nor … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil Sands, Pipelines, Trans Mountain | 32 Comments

On that UBC Report comparing job numbers and the Site C Dam

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Blair

My Twitter feed has been alive with news of a “new UBC Report” that according to its author, Dr. Karen Bakker from the UBC  Program on Water Governance, “concludes stopping Site C will create a larger number of sustainable jobs … Continue reading →

Posted in Site C, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Reviewing the demand estimates used by the opponents of Site C

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Blair

This week Business in Vancouver (BiV) printed an article about the Site C project titled:  B.C. might not need any additional wind power either which included a number of quotations from Dr. Harry Swain a gent with whom I have disagreed … Continue reading →

Posted in Site C, Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Why efforts to fight Climate Change will change the conclusions of the BCUC Site C Inquiry Report

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Blair

I have been incredibly busy at work over the last few weeks and so was not able to get involved in the public consultation portion of the BCUC Site C Inquiry process. Such are the downsides of not being a … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Climate Change, Site C, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Agriculture near Site C: confronting mythology with facts

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Blair

This blog is about evidence-based environmental decision making. I strive to present facts supported by references and emphasize the importance of using reliable data in decision-making. This is why I have spent so much time on the Site C Dam … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Site C | 15 Comments