Episode #335 (!)Discussion Forum Free* And Open To All!
Wednesday June 18, 2025 – 7:00-8:30 pmCook Street Activity Center380 Cook St. (Cook St. Village), Victoria
Limited free parking and free street parking
Please Use The Side Entrance (beside the construction site)Purchase Coffee/Tea nearby at The Moka House – BYO mug!
Discussion Topic
Pipeline development: panacea or boondoggle? And what of climate change?
Presenter: Barrie Webster
Moderator: John Pope
The business case for Canadian pipeline development rests on its ability to facilitate the efficient transport of oil and gas resources, in turn, boosting economic growth, energy security, and international trade. (Google overview)
“What we need to cash in on our natural resources in the energy sector (read fossil fuels) is more pipelines. East-west pipelines to tidewater. Oil sands heavy crude, natural gas. The world wants our resources, so what is holding us back?” This paraphrases the recent thinking.
1. Prime Minister Carney appears to be promising speedy approval.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/04/news/canada-nation-building-projects
Alberta is threatening separation if Canada doesn’t support new pipelines for Alberta energy (fossil fuels). BC is not so sure.
2. Provincial unity/dissent
So what is the actual need for new pipelines? And who is expected to pay for them?
3. Sufficient capacity (MacDonald Laurier Institute)
https://www.theenergymix.com/top-free-market-think-tank-unsure-that-canada-needs-more-pipelines/
4. Are Canadian pipelines financially viable? Usage tolls are high enough to discourage use, and federal subsidies are punishing. And who is on the receiving end?
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/10/analysis/trans-mountain-pipelines-cost-taxpayers-canada
5. Meanwhile, climate change marches on. Current global CO2 levels are above 430 ppm (CBC Radio 1 Victoria reports every morning at about 6:45).
There is a belief that Carney has environmental ‘chops’ – he was appointed Special Envoy on Climate Action in December 2019 by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Can we safely expect that he has some sort of plan to deal with climate change in his medium-to-long term perspective?
6. Let’s take a hard look at the overall picture.
Canada has strengthening experience and expertise in alternative energy.
So what should the political way forward look like? If Carney moves too fast, he risks losing to the Conservatives – a minority government position makes the Liberals vulnerable. If he moves too slowly, he risks losing his support from environmentally concerned Canadians.
So, does that put him (and us) between a rock and a hard place?
See you there! Bring a friend!
* Donations gratefully accepted
www.vsha.ca