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Senate rarely blocks bills passed by the House of Commons.

from Postmedia News

"Four months after it was passed by the House of Commons, a bill that would require labour unions to disclose detailed financial information, including how much is spent on political activities, has run into opposition in the Senate. 

"Bill C-377 is at second reading in the Senate and has already received a negative welcome from a Tory senator. On Tuesday, the Liberal leader in the Senate went a step further, saying the bill, with its 'stunning shortcomings and its horrendous drafting,' should be defeated by the upper chamber. …"

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Balancing the books left today's Alberta poorer.

from Vue Weekly

"In the end, the real legacy of Klein's tenure as premier is not one of general prosperity, economic growth and general well-being. He was a premier who was fortunate to be leader during a period of increasing oil and gas prices and who did not have to face the consequences of his policies once the price of oil crashed in 2008. Klein's true legacy is today's growing deficit, our ridiculous over-dependence on oil and gas, an incredibly volatile government revenue stream, over-crowded classrooms and emergency rooms, crumbling infrastructure, a Heritage Fund that has not grown in over 20 years, and a rapidly growing gap between rich and poor in the province. …"

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"Coastal First Nations affected by Shell Canada’s proposed liquefied natural gas terminal at Kitimat say air quality and the number of vessels that will pass through their fishing grounds are emerging as the main issues they want to see addressed if the $12-billion-plus project is to go ahead.

"First Nations have not taken a stand against the plants, key to a $50-billion plan to link B.C. gas fields with markets in Asia. But the plants, pipelines and ships that will transport the LNG to Asia need to accommodate the environmental concerns being raised, said Art Sterritt, executive director of Coastal First Nations, an umbrella group representing eight First Nations. …"

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Only transforming the national mood will convince politicians to take action.

from The Nation

"A few weeks ago, Time magazine called the fight over the Keystone XL pipeline that will bring some of the dirtiest energy on the planet from Alberta, Canada, to the US Gulf Coast the 'Selma and Stonewall' of the climate movement.

"if you think about it, may be both good news and bad news. Yes, those of us fighting the pipeline have mobilized record numbers of activists: the largest civil disobedience action in 30 years and 40,000 people on the mall in February for the biggest climate rally in American history. Right now, we’re aiming to get a million people to send in public comments about the environmental review the State Department is conducting on the feasibility and advisability of building the pipeline. And there’s good reason to put pressure on. After all, it’s the same State Department that, as on a previous round of reviews, hired “experts” who had once worked as consultants for TransCanada, the pipeline’s builder. …"

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Website for group is registered to oil industry consultant.

from the Vancouver Observer

"Last week, a new ad promoting oil pipelines appeared ahead of my favourite new song on YouTube. It featured a pair of actors having a simulated ‘real-life’ conversation about the paradox between protecting the environment and future economic growth. After the female actor asks, “But can’t we have both?” the man responds, “but if we let pipelines and tankers into our environment, what safeguards to we have?”

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