Category Archives: Canadian Politics

Academics getting it wrong about the role of private sector consultants in BC’s Environmental Assessment processes

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Blair

On November 19th a group of “scientists based in British Columbia” produced an open letter to Premier John Horgan, and several of his cabinet colleagues, about improving British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment (EA) process. The letter, was from the Earth to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, General Politics, Risk Communication, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

A primer on environmental liability under BC’s Environmental Management Act.

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Blair

Warning Wonky post ahead: Every now and then I feel the urge to write a post that clarifies a topic I encounter in my professional life. This is one such post. I hope it will serve to explain, in simple … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Fact-checking the National Observer “Discount Frenzy” oil piece

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Blair

On December 26th, 2018 the National Observer published an article Discount Frenzy: The dirt on discount oil by Wil Horter, the former Executive Director of the Dogwood Initiative. Given its subject matter, I read the piece and responded to Mr … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

About that questionable IMF survey claiming $5.3 trillion in “subsidies” for fossil fuels

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Blair

During the break I thought it would be nice to catch up on some blogging. The first topic I want to cover is that questionable International Monetary Fund (IMF) “subsidy” survey we constantly see quoted by anti-pipeline and climate change … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Climate Change, Climate Change Politics, Fossil Fuel Free Future, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

When political scientists do environmental science the results are not always pretty

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Blair

Anyone who has followed my social media feed knows I am regularly tagged by activists hoping I will amplify a post they have prepared. Sometimes I re-tweet those posts and sometimes I critique them. This week I had one that … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Climate Change, Climate Change Politics, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Revisiting 100% Wind, Water and Sunlight for Canada – an ill-advised approach to fight climate change

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Blair

Dr. Marc Z. Jacobson, the lead scientist of the 100% Wind, Water and Sunlight (100% WWS) movement, was in Vancouver last week for a presentation. Dr. Jacobson is a proponent of relying solely on wind, water and sunlight to meet … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Climate Change Politics, Fossil Fuel Free Future, Leap Manifesto, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

A primer on Professional Governance in the Natural Resources Sector

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Blair

On October 22, 2018, George Heyman tabled Bill 49 – 2018: the Professional Governance Act (the PGA) which will establish the “Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance” as well as change other elements of professional governance affecting how select professionals are … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Environmentalism and Ecomodernism, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Looking at the science on cannabis, kids and addiction

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Blair

Last week the Canadian government finally legalized and regulated the production, distribution, and use of cannabis. Like many of my peers, this change in the law didn’t have a serious effect on my life. I didn’t ingest cannabis before legalization … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

On the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ bad science about BC LNG emissions

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Blair

Life is very busy right now so I don’t have a lot of time to blog. As such tonight’s installment is simply a quick-take to address a “Policy Note” from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) about the LNG … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Uncategorized | 22 Comments

On the environmental and social consequences if the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project fails

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Blair

I have spent a lot of time in the last few years researching the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (TMX) project. Throughout I have always felt confident that good environmental and fiscal sense would prevail, and the pipeline would be built. … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Climate Change, Climate Change Politics, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 20 Comments