Category Archives: Uncategorized

No, the Trudeau government did not ignore the science when approving the Trans Mountain Pipeline

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Blair

As my readers know, I care deeply about the quality of science used in environmental decision-making so the latest anti-pipeline activist meme crossing my desk caught my attention. The meme suggests that the Trudeau government ignored the peer-reviewed science in … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Oil Sands, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

On the bizarre narrative about bitumen being an “inferior” form of crude oil that can’t be sold

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Blair

In the last month a new narrative has arisen in the anti-Trans Mountain pipeline community: that the market for bitumen is non-existent because it is “far inferior to the higher-quality oil” sold in the United States and that due to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 29 Comments

On the ridiculous claims that the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will increase Vancouver’s gas prices

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Blair

Last night they had another of the now regular stories on the local news about the rising gasoline prices in the Lower Mainland. On my walk to work today I passed the local Shell station and looked up to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian Politics, Pipelines, Trans Mountain, Uncategorized | 17 Comments

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 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