News & Reports
Articles
From Russia, with oil
EXCLUSIVE: This week saw a loaded oil tanker arrive from Vladivostok at the refinery port of Anacortes, Washington. What does this surprising event mean for the Trans Mountain pipeline project? Stewart Muir looks at the situation.
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Bright day for a local green industry that can feed the world
Salmon farming has quietly become British Columbia's leading agricultural sector by export value. Recent scientific findings from the federal and provincial governments came as welcome news for the industry.
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Want to afford Vancouver housing? Aim for a well-paying job in natural resources
Although we constantly hear about the scenic city's affordability problem, almost never are its embarrassingly low salaries flagged as a causative factor.
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Federal move to buy oil pipeline reflects global trend
A report from the International Energy Agency suggests that Canada's $4.5 billion Trans Mountain purchase may be more typical than critics of the deal have maintained.
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Once again, majority of Top 100 B.C. companies are in resources
The idea that natural resources are receding as the driver of the provincial economy proves to be just as mythical as ever. Forestry, mining and other sectors are going from strength to strength.
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Why we're taking such pride in Canadian resources
Why are we suddenly acting ashamed or embarrassed at Canada’s abundant crude oil, natural gas, pulp and paper, lumber, potash, water, coal, land, and base metal resources? Energy executive Paul Colborne makes an eloquent case for getting past those feelings.
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No easy out: climate action's tough and necessary decisions
Acting to reduce emissions means that everybody must sacrifice some degree of unrestrained consumption of hydrocarbons. The question is, will Canadians embrace cross-Canada carbon pricing, which is set to start in 2019? Margareta Dovgal looks at the issue.
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Environmental advocate urges scrapping professional reliance system
Forestry, mining and business groups were quick off the mark with strong criticisms of a British Columbia review calling for a costly overhaul of how foresters, geoscientists, engineers and other professionals are governed. Stewart Muir looks at the issue.
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Stress alert: Salmon farming's new uncertainty has broad implications
Potential chaos in British Columbia's largest agriculture sector means we need to get back to the basics of trust and collaboration, and deal with the reality of differing opinions and uncertain evidence. Stewart Muir looks at the situation.
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Are "subsidies" an actual problem in British Columbia oil & gas?
It's not uncommon to hear critics decrying fossil fuel subsidies as a giveaway to the petroleum industry. When we went looking for them in British Columbia, we found a different story.
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Elizabeth May's criminal contempt action "extremely dangerous": former Supreme Court justice
Two MPs who defied a judicial order using the excuse of "social justice" forgot their role as political leaders. Ian Binnie spoke out on the practice at the Law Society of BC's Rule of Law lecture.
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Funding the transition to the green economy with billions of dollars in tax revenues
Funding the transition to the green economy is possible, but it will cost money. First in a series on the economic impacts of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project. By Don Hauka.
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Unlocking potential of salmon farming depends on crucial decisions
Sharing a vision for the future is the way forward for coastal aquaculture, writes Stewart Muir.
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What good is environmental idealism anyways?
As I see it, writes Margareta Dovgal, the greatest challenge in facilitating a constructive dialogue across Canada on the role of natural resources is in bridging knowledge and perspective gaps.
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Resources: the source of BC's prosperity
Margareta Dovgal shares her thoughts on a weekend roadtrip from Vancouver to Smithers, and back again.
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May 26 is rally day for a strong Canada
Residents of several British Columbia communities will rally on Saturday, May 26 in defence of a strong Canada. Details here.
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Why you should be concerned about Canada's economic path
A record trade deficit shows Canada is not keeping up. Can we get our crude oil to new markets in time to reverse this growing trend? Maybe, but it will take a pipeline.
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Salmon farming has a key role to play in protecting wild fish
Although you might not know it from coverage in some media of late, salmon farming is one of the greenest and most sustainable rural industries that British Columbia has going for it. Stewart Muir looks at the situation.
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Federal government has no choice but to hold its nose and invest in Trans Mountain expansion
There are rare moments when Canada’s federal government must step outside its normal way of doing business for the good of the nation. Now is such a moment.
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Not too late for Trudeau to spare First Nations unwanted impacts of Bill C-69
Improve Canada's energy project process as needed, argue these experts, but be cautious with federal legislation that puts energy security at risk.
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In search of policy coherence in Canadian carbon taxation
Stewart Muir, Resource Works executive director, delivered this talk at Mining Week 2018 in Whitehorse, Yukon.
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Putting a face to the pipeline – one company's story
Resource Works met the founder of a B.C. family business, Surerus Pipeline, that is tooled up and ready to proceed with twinning a section of the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
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Citizen's Guide to Tanker Safety & Spill Response: Second edition now available
An authoritative and comprehensive source of relevant information about oil tanker safety and spill response on the south coast of British Columbia.
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The progressive case for supporting Kinder Morgan
In a nutshell, taking care of the environment and ensuring that we have a strong Canadian economy are not contradictory – in fact, they can go hand in hand. Being a progressive that wants our society to deliver on social commitments, like poverty eradication, requires also understanding that without economic growth – growth that hinges on market access for Canada’s most valuable commodity – we cannot provide jobs and a social safety net for Canadians.
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5 reasons why KM is the safe way to get Canadian oil to market
The twinning of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, has generated considered discussion and debate. You’ve probably seen your fair share of handwringing, whether about the project or the delays it has encountered. Much of it has, unfortunately, been premised on a poor understanding of the risks as they stand. All-too-frequently, opponents of the TMEP fan fear by pointing to concerns about oil tanker safety that are at odds with what the experts say or misrepresent the probability of risk. Now’s the time to clear some facts up.
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Scientific studies are ongoing to ensure dilbit behaviour understood
Extensive research shows that diluted bitumen behaves much the same way as other heavy oils. Here is an excerpt from the Citizen's Guide to Tanker Safety and Spill Response on BC's South Coast, published earlier this month.
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Counting the risks of Canada of losing yet another pipeline project
Environmental, social and economic questions abound when considering major energy infrastructure investments that have aided humanity's recent gains. We should take care not to thwart the innovation that can be the defining thread of humanity’s progress over the next century.
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Cheap attack on responsible Canadian resources a black eye for Greenpeace UK
Greenpeace UK is known for its outrageous stunts to capture media attention, but by lying about the Canadian oil sands it is not only misleading Britons – the group is harming global climate progress.
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Key First Nation open to pipeline, and seeks "a reasonable solution"
It's another sign that indigenous leaders have recognized the need to stand up and be counted when it comes to projects that can help them break free of the poverty trap.
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Should Canada refine its crude oil instead of, or before, exporting it?
It seems like a common sense argument to state that a raw resource becomes more valuable if it is manufactured into a refined product. Yet this assumption remains a controversial one in 2018, especially when it comes to crude oil and pipeline politics. Stewart Muir shares his research.
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Debunking six myths about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
DYK? The pipeline's expansion is legally in the national interest, and the approval process heard from 1,650 intervenors and commenters.
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What is revealed by an honest appraisal of pipeline safety
To hear some tell it, pipelines are an inherently unsafe way to move crude oil because they will (so the story goes) inevitably spring a leak.
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In pursuit of sensible climate policy, one country encounters serious challenges to its approach
Germany has gone from being a global model for climate change to an emissions-spewing "problem child". But for those with the courage to accept the challenge, solutions exist.
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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide clues on how to improve Canada's sustainability performance
SDG Sustainable Oil Index: Everyone is concerned about sustainability today. By choosing more carefully how it sources its oil imports, Canada has a big opportunity to enhance its progress.
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As the nation hits breaking point, it's a matter of confidence
Kinder Morgan's decision to suspend non-essential spending because of "unquantifiable risk" means Canada's global reputation as a safe and secure place to invest is at serious risk. Urgent steps are needed without further delay.
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Onward and upward for Resource Works research
The movement for responsible Canadian resources is building in so many ways. One encouraging sign is the recent accomplishment of two researchers who are bringing their fresh perspective to important questions.
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Northern BC mayors take strong message to Ottawa on rural opportunities
Seven mayors from across northern British Columbia have taken the rare step of jointly travelling to Ottawa to lobby the federal government in favour of a resource project that will create not just regional, but national prosperity.
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First Nations group charts path to becoming a real economic force
The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is a BC-based group that aims to bring indigenous values and culture into the work of developing major projects. The group met in Prince George where Resource Works caught up with them.
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LNG project gets a tax boost, and now steels itself for final steps
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is how Canada can fetch higher prices for a relatively climate-friendly commodity, and on March 22 the British Columbia government gave the industry a major boost.
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Rally in Vancouver for Our Shared Future: Turning point for Canada?
A sunny day overlooking Vancouver's port and mountains provided the perfect setting. But it was people who made Saturday's pro-resources rally a game changer.
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BC mining titans step up to give nature a voice in Africa
Some of BC’s biggest names in the mining industry came together in Vancouver to raise money for a series of documentaries that showcase critical environmental issues facing the continent.
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Vancouver gasoline prices: A market that is desperately short of supply
Motorists have been hit hard by high gas prices, according to gasoline market analyst Dan McTeague of GasBuddy. Relief is in sight in the form of added pipeline capacity from the upcoming Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
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Rally in Vancouver: Saturday March 10
Join us at Jack Poole Plaza to send a clear message to government that the people of Canada know it is time to stop playing politics and get on with vital resource infrastructure that is in the national interest.
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Decisions based on facts or fears?
Canada’s natural resource development opponents are indicating that an increase in the number of crude oil tankers leaving the Port of Vancouver would make a catastrophic crude oil spill inevitable. They continue to promote this position even though their evidence has been considered and rejected by the judicial bodies involved.
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Reports & Series
Healing the Divide: A plan for B.C.'s rural development strategy
REPORT: In contemporary British Columbia, non-Native society is embracing more and more of the Indigenous approach to sustainable resource development. This Resource Works submission to the provincial Rural Development Strategy shows how this is tied to some fundamental economic truths.
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A Walk in the Park: Two views on Canada's natural-resource future
AUDIO: People are torn between the environment and the economy – but what can we do about this? Resource Works executive director Stewart Muir and pipeline opponent Tzeporah Berman, who has been working for years to undermine Canadian energy sovereignty, took this question to a cross-Canada radio audience.
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Moving beyond conflict on resource issues
What’s the way to move beyond conflict on key resource issues? Not just on a contentious pipeline, but on the larger questions of balance between economy and environment? Stewart Muir looks at what will help—and at what won’t.
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How crude oil exports pay Canada's bills
Canadians enjoy the sixth highest standard of living in the world. This single largest factor behind this is our ability to export crude oil.
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