Category Archives: Utilities
Company ‘shocked’ by Ottawa’s decision on proposed coal mine in southwestern Alberta
CROWSNEST PASS, Alta. — The company behind the proposed Grassy Mountain coal project in southwestern Alberta says it is shocked by the federal government's decision that it cannot proceed. Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson made...
Supreme Court sides with Lac Seul First Nation over flooding compensation
OTTAWA — The Lac Seul First Nation of northern Ontario has won a key round in its long fight to be properly compensated for the flooding of its lands caused by construction of a dam. In an 8-1 ruling Friday, the
Manitoba looking to raise electricity rates 2.5 per cent each year for three years
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is planning to raise electricity rates by 2.5 per cent a year for the next three years, starting in December. The increases, to be presented in amendments to a bill before the legislature, are the lowest
Manitoba Hydro wants a 3.5 per cent rate hike to deal with large debt load
WINNIPEG — Manitobans could see their hydroelectric bills rise by 3.5 per cent in October. Manitoba Hydro President Jay Grewal told a legislature committee the Crown-owned utility needs the increase to help pay down debt from large capital projects in ...
‘Sacred country’: Singer-songwriter Corb Lund holds coal mining protest concert
LIVINGSTONE RANGE, ALBERTA — Two mountain goats stubbornly refused to get up from their resting spot Wednesday in the middle of a gravel road heading into the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Like the two goats, many rural landowners in
‘Unacceptable environmental effects:’ New federal policy restricts thermal coal
The federal government is making it more difficult to develop thermal coal in Canada with a new policy that says all such mines create "unacceptable environmental effects." The move erects another roadblock for Coalspur Mines and its proposed Vista min...
New Democrat MP tables private bill, wants federal assessment of coal projects
OTTAWA — Alberta's lone New Democrat member of Parliament tabled proposed legislation Tuesday that would require all coal-mining proposals to go before a full federal environmental assessment. The private member's bill would apply across Canada, but He...
Head of coal-mining panel says Albertans’ trust in resource regulators to be examined
EDMONTON — A public consultation committee on coal mining in the Rocky Mountains will consider why Albertans' level of trust in the province's regulatory bodies is so low, the panel's head said Monday.In an hour-long phone-in show on CBC Radio,
Coal company asks court to quash order for federal environmental review of expansion
A coal company is asking Federal Court this week to toss out a decision by Canada's environment minister that a proposed Alberta mine expansion should get a full federal environmental review. Coalspur Mines argues the decision was based on an unfair
Early survey results show big concerns in Alberta over Rocky Mountain coal mining
EDMONTON — Early results from a provincial survey on coal mining in the Rocky Mountains show Albertans have major concerns about expanding the industry. "More than 90 per cent of respondents felt there are areas of the province that are not