The Big Four oilsands companies’ influence threatens Alberta democracy, argues political scientist:

The Big Four’s political influence has most recently manifested in its dominant position in the Pathways Alliance. This lobbying consortium — known as COSIA — consists of the Big Four, ConocoPhillips and MEG Energy.  

According to their website, COSIA’s purpose
is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands production and
achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The Pathways Alliance sees
oilsands production carrying on for nearly three decades and beyond.

Central to this lobby effort has been successfully convincing Ottawa to give the firms a tax credit in the 2022 federal budget.
This sets a dangerous precedent — if Ottawa itself is willing to grant
the wishes of the Big Four, what chance will the Alberta premier have in
refusing similar requests?

The fiscally dependent Alberta government will continue its battles
against Ottawa on behalf of the Big Four. Whether or not this is good
for Alberta’s democracy, its residents and the planet is another matter
entirely.

The Big Four oilsands companies’ influence threatens Alberta democracy, argues political scientist: The Big Four’s political influence has most recently manifested in its dominant position in the Pathways Alliance. This lobbying consortium — known as COSIA — consists of the Big Four, ConocoPhillips and MEG Energy.  According to their website, COSIA’s purpose
is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands production and
achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The Pathways Alliance sees
oilsands production carrying on for nearly three decades and beyond.Central to this lobby effort has been successfully convincing Ottawa to give the firms a tax credit in the 2022 federal budget.
This sets a dangerous precedent — if Ottawa itself is willing to grant
the wishes of the Big Four, what chance will the Alberta premier have in
refusing similar requests?The fiscally dependent Alberta government will continue its battles
against Ottawa on behalf of the Big Four. Whether or not this is good
for Alberta’s democracy, its residents and the planet is another matter
entirely.Read More

Alberta is calling, again: Top-notch education at the U of A! (Never mind how we’re trying to bring it down a notch or two …) – Alberta Politics:

“Top notch education,” Mr. Kenney, or his campaign surrogate, enthusiastically tweeted on Saturday. “Alberta is calling.”

The little web image attached to the tweet cheerfully proclaimed:
“Alberta is calling to say … THE U OF A IS RANKED IN THE TOP 100
UNIVERSITIES GLOBALLY.”

Who knew that irony was part of the Alberta Advantage?

Alberta is calling, again: Top-notch education at the U of A! (Never mind how we’re trying to bring it down a notch or two …) – Alberta Politics: “Top notch education,” Mr. Kenney, or his campaign surrogate, enthusiastically tweeted on Saturday. “Alberta is calling.”The little web image attached to the tweet cheerfully proclaimed:
“Alberta is calling to say … THE U OF A IS RANKED IN THE TOP 100
UNIVERSITIES GLOBALLY.” Who knew that irony was part of the Alberta Advantage?Read More

The document was obtained through a Freedom of Information request:

Canada agreed to “forever discharge” Catholic entities from their
promise to raise $25 million for residential school survivors and also
picked up their legal bill, a final release document shows.

The Canadian Press obtained a signed copy of the 2015
agreement through federal Access-to-Information laws, marking what
appears to be the first time the document has been widely publicized.

“That’s a very, very important set of records,” said Ry Moran, an
associate librarian at the University of Victoria and founding director
of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Like all questions around accountability, the question is who made
the decision? How was that decision made? Who ultimately signed off on
this?”

Indigenous leaders and legal experts have long questioned why Ottawa
opted to give up an appeal of a court decision that meant Catholic
entities didn’t have to pay their remaining financial obligations under
the historic Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

The document was obtained through a Freedom of Information request: Canada agreed to “forever discharge” Catholic entities from their
promise to raise $25 million for residential school survivors and also
picked up their legal bill, a final release document shows.The Canadian Press obtained a signed copy of the 2015
agreement through federal Access-to-Information laws, marking what
appears to be the first time the document has been widely publicized.“That’s a very, very important set of records,” said Ry Moran, an
associate librarian at the University of Victoria and founding director
of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.“Like all questions around accountability, the question is who made
the decision? How was that decision made? Who ultimately signed off on
this?”Indigenous leaders and legal experts have long questioned why Ottawa
opted to give up an appeal of a court decision that meant Catholic
entities didn’t have to pay their remaining financial obligations under
the historic Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.Read More

Canadian veterans in France to mark 80th anniversary of disastrous Dieppe Raid:

Eighty years ago today, more than 5,000 Canadian soldiers were sent
onto the beaches in an attempt to breach the occupied town from the sea.

Among them was 20-year-old Gordon Fennell, a member of the Calgary
Tanks regiment, who has returned this week to commemorate the battle in
which more than 900 Canadians died.

Fennell is one of the very few remaining survivors of Operation
Jubilee, one of the best-known and deadliest events of the entire war
for Canada.

Canadian veterans in France to mark 80th anniversary of disastrous Dieppe Raid: Eighty years ago today, more than 5,000 Canadian soldiers were sent
onto the beaches in an attempt to breach the occupied town from the sea.Among them was 20-year-old Gordon Fennell, a member of the Calgary
Tanks regiment, who has returned this week to commemorate the battle in
which more than 900 Canadians died.Fennell is one of the very few remaining survivors of Operation
Jubilee, one of the best-known and deadliest events of the entire war
for Canada.Read More

Canadian municipalities increasingly support climate change litigation against oil and gas companies:

The Vancouver City Council is the first Canadian municipal government
to consider and pass a motion directing city staff to set aside up to
$1 per Vancouver resident in the City’s 2023 Operating Budget to fund a
proposed class action lawsuit seeking to recover climate change-related
costs. The motion endorses a campaign led by West Coast Environmental
Law and the Georgia Strait Alliance that calls on local governments to
fund class action litigation against oil and gas companies to recover
the costs municipalities incur as a result of climate change. The
campaign suggests these costs result primarily from burning fossil fuels
and targets several large companies including British Petroleum,
Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Saudi Aramco, and Shell.

Other Canadian municipalities have also passed motions to explore
options for recovering climate change-related costs from oil and gas
companies.

Canadian municipalities increasingly support climate change litigation against oil and gas companies: The Vancouver City Council is the first Canadian municipal government
to consider and pass a motion directing city staff to set aside up to
$1 per Vancouver resident in the City’s 2023 Operating Budget to fund a
proposed class action lawsuit seeking to recover climate change-related
costs. The motion endorses a campaign led by West Coast Environmental
Law and the Georgia Strait Alliance that calls on local governments to
fund class action litigation against oil and gas companies to recover
the costs municipalities incur as a result of climate change. The
campaign suggests these costs result primarily from burning fossil fuels
and targets several large companies including British Petroleum,
Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Saudi Aramco, and Shell.Other Canadian municipalities have also passed motions to explore
options for recovering climate change-related costs from oil and gas
companies.Read More