By Tim Weis, Financial Post, February 9, 2012

Whether it is the Keystone XL pipeline, the Northern Gateway pipeline or securing an export market in China, the oil sands have dominated much of the recent energy discussions in Canada.

Gwen Barlee, Wilderness Committee, 06Feb2012

The BC government’s announcement last Friday that it is axing BC Hydro’s electricity self-sufficiency and insurance requirement should dramatically reduce the demand for private power projects and keep scores of wild rivers out of pipes.

Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI), 01 Nov 2010

The GSI’s second report in the series Fossil Fuels – At What Cost? identifies and determines the value and impact of oil production subsidies in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador. This detailed analysis is the first of its kind in Canada and allows appropriate comparisons of subsidies with other countries. It finds 63 subsidies at the federal and provincial level, amounting to C$ 2.84 billion in 2008. It also sets out the financial, economic and environmental trade-offs implied by the subsidies.

Fossil Fuels – At What Cost? Government support for upstream oil activities in three Canadian provinces (PDF - 4 MB)

Key Findings (PDF - 404.66 KB)

News Release, Premier's Office, Feb 3 2012

VANCOUVER - Premier Christy Clark today announced British Columbia's natural gas strategy will be established on a foundation of four priorities for long-term economic prosperity under the BC Jobs Plan.

By Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun, February 3, 2012

VICTORIA - Premier Christy Clark is making over her predecessors approach to energy self sufficiency to help make way for a significant expansion in the production of liquefied natural gas.

Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail, Feb. 03, 2012

Victoria — British Columbia will abandon its current commitment to move the province back to a position of energy self-sufficiency, Premier Christy Clark is announcing today.

The watered-down version of the policy is being rolled out as part of a new energy strategy aimed at fuelling a new liquefied natural gas industry.

Energy & Mines, December 2011

The British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines (the Ministry) is undertaking a review of the tenure provisions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act (the Act) and its regulations, which provide the statutory framework for the administration of rights to Crown owned subsurface petroleum and natural gas resources. 

Shawn McCarthy, Globe and Mail, Nov. 28, 2011

OTTAWA — Ottawa is planning to overhaul the country’s environmental assessment process to ensure major energy and mining projects aren’t jeopardized by unnecessary delays, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver says.

By Greg Nesteroff, Nelson Star, November 28, 2011

More than 40 scientists and land management professionals have signed a letter to BC Hydro​ protesting the closure of the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program’s Nelson office.

By Andrew Findlay, Georgia Straight, November 24, 2011

Mineral exploration is exploding in B.C., but critics claim the provincial government isn’t assessing the environmental impact.

By CHRIS PLECASH, Hill Times, Nov. 28, 2011

NDP Environment Critic calls exercise a ‘farce,’ accuses government of already drafting legislative overhaul of EA process.

Greenpeace, November 2, 2011

Greenpeace released a science-based report today that highlights the dangers of the large-scale use of wood and tree harvesting for heating, electricity generation or liquid biofuels. The report, entitled ‘Fuelling a Biomess’, argues that burning woody biomass on an industrial scale could severely harm Canada’s public forests and further contribute to the global climate crisis.

Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail, Nov. 03, 2011

While the B.C. government was busy with what now stands as the province’s worst example of government communications on a major public policy – selling the harmonized sales tax – it discouraged BC Hydro from distracting the public with a sales job of its own.

JUSTINE HUNTER, Globe and Mail, Oct. 27, 2011

VICTORIA— BC Hydro is keeping rates artificially low by funnelling billions of dollars in expenses into deferral accounts, the province’s auditor general says.

Editorial, Vancouver Sun, October 29, 2011

Let's be clear - B.C. Auditor-General John Doyle's latest report on BC Hydro is not about a dispute over arcane accounting rules.

Auditor General of BC, October 2011

This report examines the implications of BC Hydro's use of rate-regulated accounting, which allows BC Hydro to establish deferral accounts into which it can "defer" expenses to future years.

Rich Coleman and Vaughn Palmer, Voice of BC, Oct 27, 2011

Minister of Energy, Mines and Housing talks to Vaughn Palmer about an array of interesting topics about electricity, natural gas, shale gas, mining, smart meters, carbon neutrality, deferral accounts, BC's GHG.
 

By Marvin Shaffer, Vancouver Sun, October 25, 2011

BC Hydro will lose millions supplying new mines and LNG facilities; losses that will be passed on to consumers

By Paul Willcocks, Times-Colonist, October 5, 2011

Smart meters were expected to be a big deal at the UBCM meeting in Vancouver.

The surprise was Solicitor General Shirley Bond's bombshell revelation that the federal government had issued a takeit-or-leave-it final offer for a new 20-year RCMP contract.

The Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, Oct. 04, 2011

The federal government’s information about greenhouse-gas emissions and oil sands pollution is so spotty that key decisions are being made without fully understanding the consequences, says the environmental auditor.

Les Leyne, Times Colonist, October 01, 2011

Premiers are always looking for a crowd-pleasing stunt for the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

Four years ago, Gordon Campbell came up with smart meters.

It seemed like a natural. People love home electronics, don't they?

CBC News, September 30, 2011

[Excerpt] - Delegates at [the 2011 UBCM] convention in Vancouver also voted narrowly in favour of moratorium on BC Hydro Smart Meters, 55 per cent in favour and 45 against.

Media Release, Dogwood Initiative, 27 Sep 2011

Victoria, B.C. — A report released by the Dogwood Initiative today reveals the rapidly expanding global warming impacts of B.C. coal and criticizes the provincial government for allowing these emissions to grow unchecked.

By Brian Roberts, Adam Kreek And Chris McDowell, Vancouver Sun September 27, 2011

Environmentally friendly products taxed as if they were derived from the fossil fuels they aim to replace