News & Reports
Articles
Mountain caribou and the future of land access
What started as a government initiative to protect the mountain caribou has become a hot issue in rural British Columbia, with some residents concerned that traditional access to the backcountry is in jeopardy.
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Natural resources maintain strong support in B.C., Canada
70 per cent of Canadians believe the economy will suffer if resource development projects don't get built. In the case of British Columbia, a mere 3 per cent of people are strongly opposed to such progress.
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NEB's Trans Mountain Reconsideration raises bigger questions about future of the Salish Sea
What responsible management of oil shipping can teach us about protecting ecosystems around the Salish Sea, starting with our sewage. Stewart Muir looks at recent developments.
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Breaking boundaries, changing lives
Crystal Smith, elected chief councillor of the Haisla First Nation in Kitimat, is the latest indigenous leader speaking out against threats of violence.
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The path to Canadian Energy 2.0
POLICY NOTE: The business of energy is facing a crisis of perception around the world, causing energy exporters to become increasingly strategic in how they approach climate risk, economic growth, and politics. Canada is going to have to sharpen its elbows to reclaim its rightful place as an energy leader. Stewart Muir weighs in.
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Homeland Journey: Stories of First Nations and the land
VIDEO SERIES: Across western Canada, a movement is stirring. Aboriginal people, seeking to revive their cultures and preserve myriad indigenous languages, are increasingly seeing natural resources as the key to unlock their hopes and dreams.
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Citizen's Guide: Economic impacts of Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
In our ongoing Citizen's Guide series, Resource Works tackles the question of what economic benefits will flow from completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project. This document was independently prepared by veteran journalists Stewart Muir and Don Hauka.
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The true cost of climate litigation in Canada
POLICY BRIEF: Should corporations be sued for supplying fuels to local residents? Stewart Muir, Resource Works founding executive director, takes a look at a campaign imported from the United States where it has met with little success in the legal system.
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Resource Works marks 5 years – with event and special guest speaker Vivian Krause
Researcher Krause has become known nationally for her work on the causes behind Canada's frustrating inability to deliver on nation-building resource investments. Book your ticket now to hear her speak on March 14 in Vancouver.
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THRONE SPEECH 2019: Recognition for the "bedrock" sector
British Columbia's 2019 got off to a positive start on Feb. 12 when natural resources were acknowledged as the bedrock of the province's economy.
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Travels in LNG: Hear firsthand why First Nations are embracing opportunity
HOMELAND JOURNEY: More than 20 First Nations are actively supporting the LNG Canada project. Many of their members are choosing to speak out about their personal views. Meet Diane Lukasser of Kitsumkalum First Nation.
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What empowered society builders can learn from radicals
Increasingly, society is divided into those (including resource people like us) with the vision and knowledge to improve and shape a better world; and those afraid to embrace change. Stewart Muir looks back to a radical thinker from the 1970s for reminders of how to thrive in these times.
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FREE WALLPAPERS: Resources & Global Transformation
The 5th anniversary of Resource Works is coming up, and we've collaborated with resource champion Tony Morley to provide this gallery of stunning computer wallpaper images for you to download and appreciate.
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ResourceWorksTV: What does 2019 hold in store?
The BC Natural Resources Forum drew some 1,200 delegates to Prince George in early January for the largest conference of its kind in western Canada. For the second year in a row, ResourceWorksTV was there. Check out these videos.
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New process, new soapbox: Inside the strategy of thwarting nation-building energy investment
Groups hacking Canada’s regulatory system to stop projects through technicalities find a rage-fuelled ally to help them throw a wrench in the works. Dave Johnston and Steven Simons of The North Matters take a look at the situation.
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Flash mobs for the protest era
A few observations about LNG’s brusque rite of passage into resource radicalism, from Stewart Muir of Resource Works.
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OPINION: How a strategy to undermine the Canadian oilpatch worked like a charm
Canada’s debilitating inability to gain fair market value for its largest export commodity – crude oil – has become the top economic story of 2018. It will likely dominate headlines in 2019, writes Stewart Muir.
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Who gets to decide? A conversation on making the rules
VIDEO: The Canadian economy is based on free markets, competition, capitalism, and the rule of law. Should we drop this model in favour of imposing high costs onto business resulting in merely symbolic benefits?
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Struggle continues to find right path for climate policy
How divided is the public conversation on carbon taxes? A hint comes from the reaction to a recent report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on the subject.
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Energy company letters backfire, with neither municipalities nor climate better off
Whistler mayor backtracked, vowed to focus on local actions where municipal efforts can actually make a difference
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British Columbia has an opportunity to gain from slow global shift to a lower GHG future
The results of the CleanBC plan, should they be achieved, will have "zero effect" on the level, pattern, or growth of global greenhouse gas emissions, states a new commentary from leading business group.
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Gift shopping for a resource realist? Here are five 2018 titles worth a look
From the 10 reasons eco-pessimists are wrong about the world to how energy has shaped civilization, these books challenge and expand our knowledge of humanity and nature.
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"Maximizing returns on investments in people" is motto of newest Resource Works Advisory Council member
Kerry A. Jothen, a former CEO of the British Columbia Industry Training & Apprenticeship Commission, has aided strategic planning and capacity building throughout the resource industry.
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Export figures show why Canadians need to confront their pipeline fears
There are easy ways and hard ways to pay for the things we need in everyday life, such as vaccines. The easiest thing we can do is simply ensure that our largest export commodity, crude oil, trades for a fair price.
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Amid automotive turmoil, resources keep nation's trade on even keel
Government moves to restrict wealth-building resource activities have grave consequences as the automotive industry sheds jobs.
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A gap opens for LNG
VIDEO: Liquefied natural gas will be a double-digit export opportunity for B.C. because of the greening of Asian economies, predicted economist Patricia Mohr at a recent Resource Works event.
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LNG Canada a "transformational" opportunity
VIDEO: Economist Bryan Yu from Credit 1 Credit Union shares his research findings at a Resource Works gathering in Vancouver.
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LNG: Measuring its impact on the British Columbia economy
Natural gas, liquefied so it can be shipped to distant markets, will be produced by the LNG Canada terminal in north west British Columbia. This new study sets out to find out what impact is created by building the unprecedented, $40 billion project.
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Explaining liquefied natural gas
As British Columbia prepares to be a true global player in clean natural gas, we'll be providing information that provides context and meaning for the transition.
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Resource Works welcomes new board members
Resource Works board of directors has elected Mina Laudan and Richard Prokopanko to join the board of this non-profit organization dedicated to informing and fostering dialogue about responsible resource development in British Columbia.
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LNG CANADA: Where are the opportunities?
On November 14 in Vancouver, economic experts will share their insights into how Canada's largest-ever private sector investment will stimulate economic growth.
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BC LNG offers ‘historic’ benefits
On November 14, Resource Works hosts experts who will discuss the economic impact of liquefied natural gas exports to Asia. The lunch event, in downtown Vancouver, is open to the public.
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As new challenges stack up, crude oil is still the basis of Canadian prosperity
Though the biggest driver of innovation, economic growth and social equality in Canada is the nation's oil & gas industry, executives from the industry face a staggering list of challenges.
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NOV. 14 EVENT - Learn how LNG Canada project will drive economic growth in B.C.
Economist Philip Cross and an expert panel will deliver valuable insights at this Vancouver lunchtime event.
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A question of rights - the Trans Mountain pipeline example
VIDEO: Energy has roiled Canadian politics in the past, but today it's a different game. Climate, indigenous rights, and the role of the courts have completely changed things.
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Questioning the “100% renewables” idea might land you in court
When a group of energy scholars wondered about the assumptions behind a “100% renewable” campaign, they got a nasty surprise: a $10 million libel threat. The man behind that threat is renewables crusader Mark Jacobson and this week he is in Vancouver trying to stop climate-friendly LNG exports.
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DYK – Canada's oil sands have 1/20th the emissions of American coal plants
Canada's oil sands are often maligned because they have a carbon footprint, but we often overlook just how small that footprint is.
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Carbon taxes aren't saving the planet, but these ideas will
Resource Works executive director Stewart Muir offers his prescription for moving beyond the conflict and confusion.
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What would 100% renewable energy look like in B.C.?
British Columbia's LNG exports will allow growing Asian economies to reduce their climate emissions. Should this development also mean fundamental changes to BC's own energy system?
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5 reasons why Natural Gas Week matters
From Oct. 7 to 13, Resource Works will be observing British Columbia Natural Gas Week with a program of public service information.
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How Whispering Pines came to support the Trans Mountain pipeline
Chief Mike LeBourdais of the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band relates the conversation he had with the CEO of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project, Ian Anderson.
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Who’s in charge of oil tanker safety on Canadian coasts?
Whom to trust for information about tanker safety? As the Trans Mountain expansion project moves forward, we’re launching a series based on our popular Citizen’s Guide to Tanker Safety and Spill Response on British Columbia’s South Coast. Here's part one.
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October 2, 2018: The day Canada became a global energy power
Moving forward with historic $40 billion LNG Canada project means natural gas from Canada will receive its fair market value as Asian countries, desperate to lower their climate impacts, use cleaner gas to displace coal.
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LNG project will make British Columbia carbon neutral
19 million cars would need to be taken off the road to equal the climate benefits of LNG Canada project. It's time for global thinking now.
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VIDEO: Communicating complexity - two experts tackle the challenge
Whether it is climate policy, oil pipelines, mining, forest licenses, salmon farms or LNG projects, the consequences of being able to convey credible, accurate specialist information are significant.
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What are the challenges for B.C.'s economic development?
What policies and priorities should guide the British Columbia government in managing the provincial economy? On Sept. 28, our Stewart Muir joins a panel to discuss this topic at the second annual Politics, Policies & Priorities conference.
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Here's the latest evidence that natural resources are growing in importance
The resource economy is a thing of the past? Not so fast. New data from the British Columbia government proves the opposite.
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British Columbia's electricity use hit an all-time high in 2017
A new report from the provincial government shows that across all measures – production, consumption, total demand and exports – electricity hit all-time highs last year, says Stewart Muir.
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Advisory Council welcomes a steady voice for communities: Walt Cobb of Williams Lake
Walt Cobb is the mayor of Williams Lake. He joins the Resource Works Advisory Council to share his perspective on the contribution of natural resource activities to healthy communities.
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