,

Canada IS going to pay for another pipeline (even if the PM would rather we call it an "investment"). As heat waves, wildfires, and flooding endanger Canadian lives - and even disrupt Canada Day - Canadians are united: In wanting climate action and not wanting publicly funded pipelines. But the Prime Minister instead announced Canada will not meet climate targets and will purposefully enable further oil and gas expansion as Rachel Gilmore reports. And now we're building a new pipeline that both the Canadian and Alberta Government will 'invest in' and that will be constructed by the Trans Mountain Corporation - a federal Crown corporation.

“61% of Albertans oppose subsidies for a new pipeline… and two-thirds say their province’s economy is too dependent on oil and gas. Meanwhile “69% of people across Canada, and 62% in Alberta, support government regulations to limit oil and gas companies’ greenhouse gas emissions.” Albertans and other Canadians, alike, also wanted STRONGER Industrial Carbon Pricing.

Cuts to climate policy and the construction of a new pipeline are not necessary for national unity and these actions only enable a small group of U.S. aligned oil, gas, and tech interests to keep pushing for more division and leverage.

The 'private industry partner' (Pembina Pipeline Corporation) aspect of the pipeline announcement today appears simply a cover. As CBC reports:

"The [private sector Pembina] company has said it "shall have no at-risk development capital" at this stage, which likely means that, for the moment, it is not risking a substantial amount of money — if any."

Three things to know:

• There might be a private 'partner,' BUT for a pipeline like this to even be built it would still need massive public financing that will be a loss to the Canadian public.
• It's very likely any private sector partners will realize this pipeline doesn't make sense at some point. You can bet that story ends with the public picking up the bill: IEEFA notes “the chances for recouping public funds that have been sunken into the [previous] TMX are slim.
• Carbon capture projects - such as via the pathways project -  do not work and are themselves a way for government to subsidize oil and gas, representing more public investment.

Again, oil and gas interests will do everything they can to undermine climate policy which is why false pragmatism that lowers climate targets only ensures we achieve nothing at all.

As far equity partnerships with First Nations as well as financing via the Indigenous loan guarantee program, one only need look to LNG and the risks that has brought to communities, as Desmog reports:

"As Mark Carney fast-tracks Canadian LNG projects, First Nations face hidden financial traps. Critics say new LNG ventures in British Columbia saddle Indigenous communities with debt, opaque ownership structures, and financial risk that could leave them owing billions."

A southern route for the pipeline does not magically make it's hurdles nor its climate impact go away, as The Energy Mix reports: 

"four southern First Nations remain opposed to TMX, there’s no sign they would support a pipeline expansion, and a route to Delta would engage a different set of Nations."

The International Energy Agency still projects declining demand for oil & gas - with no new production needed - as Catherine Abreu explained at the IEA Energy Efficiency conference in Montreal this week.

The Prime Minister's Pipeline

The Prime Minister must really get credit for this pipeline proposal alongside Alberta - after all he has made sure we all 'invest' in it. Federal Government actions have sought to enable it at every step and threatening BC - if BC didn't cooperate - was undoubtedly vital to getting to this point. We know it's a genuine love of pipelines that fuelled these decisions - after all the Federal Government's AI strategy is purposefully meant to burn more gas as DeSmog revealed. That's along with all the other environmental deregulation - like pesticides de-regulation that actually hurts trade diversification - that doesn't fit into the 'national unity' cover story.

Again, I highly recommend reading a three part series in The Tyee on the influence of the pro-oil, pro-LNG, pro-AI group 'Build Canada' on Federal Policy to understand this more. It's a group whose founders did not want Canada  to retaliate towards U.S. aggression and who cherish Elon Musk. That's problem with not being unable to hear the word 'no' - it makes one likely to fall for scams.

You can also tune in to our podcast (sometime) tomorrow (it's in editing) to hear just how much the Federal Government has been backing this pipeline and why they've been so supportive...

'4D chess' is a lie (one many of us even have told ourselves), and it's a massive one that could costs Canada tens of billions of dollars. It also begs the question of what other lies about the direction of policy are out there that we may believe.

Take Action

Take action by spreading the word and talking with others (here's how), calling your MP and opposing this pipeline, and by sharing our social media posts here and here.

P.S. I apologize in advance for typos in the above, it's late and incredibly warm here - but I feel you need to know what's just happened.

Find The Environment in Canada Podcast on the Harbinger Media Network, IHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify,  our Youtube Channel as well as many other places you listen to podcasts. 

• "The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says it has received all federal permits to allow for the dredging of Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet, making room for larger oil tankers loading up from the Trans Mountain pipeline." - APTN
• 'PIPSC is sounding the alarm over another round of cuts at the DFO, warning that the federal government is cutting the experts responsible for delivering the species recovery and marine conservation efforts it recently pledged to strengthen [government is cutting another $100 million]." - PIPSC.
• "New camera footage from Canada’s first LNG export terminal is raising concerns about invisible pollution and whether current monitoring adequately detects what reaches nearby communities.' - National Observer.
• Carney government passes law allowing authorization of banned pesticides: "The pesticide industry has previously praised Canada's health minister for her "bold action" it says will modernize pesticide rules.... Michel's office, however, declined a request for an interview. Michel also refused to answer questions from CBC News outside of the House of Commons Thursday." - CBC.
• Clean-water legislation gets lukewarm reception from Indigenous leaders - IndigiNews.
• Canada 'turning its back' on holding companies accountable for rights violations, advocates say - CBC.
• How the Government of Canada is (Or is Not [amid the unknown impact of public service cuts]) Monitoring Our Homegrown Hantavirus Strain - PressProgress.
• Canada rejected more than half of all World Cup visitor applications - CTV News.
• Fortress North America would imprison Canada [but] "an increasing number of our political and business leaders [including the PM] advocate for the creation of a new “Fortress North America.” - The Globe and Mail.

• Sluggish Uptake of Energy Efficiency Could Boost Canadians’ Costs as Oil and Gas Decline (Video, watch via YouTube) by Mitchell Beer: 

"Catherine Abreu, Director of the International Climate Politics Hub, joins The Energy Mix to explain why Canada needs to focus more on energy efficiency if we really mean it about international competitiveness. Despite a shifting global politics, she says the International Energy Agency still projects declining demand for oil, gas, and coal [with no need for new production]."

• Europe’s Record Heat Has Overwhelmed Paris Mortuaries and Left Families in Distress (pictured) by Chris Bonasia:

"The statistical and public health work of tallying heat-related deaths could take weeks or months. But it’s already apparent that the toll exacted by the intense, unrelenting extreme temperatures was terrible in France, the first country hit from mid-June, particularly among older people who died at home."

• Brendan Haley on Saving Canadians Money via Energy Efficiency & Government’s Focus on Major Projects (Video, watch via YouTube) by Mitchell Beer:

"Brendan Haley, Senior Director of Policy Strategy at Efficiency Canada, tells The Energy Mix about the value of energy efficiency to Canadians and the vital need to balance a focus on major projects with energy efficiency."

Related: Read our explainer on why nuclear is not a climate solution but a way to prolong dependence on oil and gas and waste funds - especially since battery storage removes the need for base load power.

More newsletter content below! But first, please consider a donation to help us continue to run projects like youth chapter events. Even five dollars a month, or as a one time donation, makes a huge difference.

Read more about Atlantic Chapter here.

And check out their Facebook for recent updates.

Talking with others is the biggest impact you can have but be sure to prioritize talking to those on the fence about the seriousness of the climate crisis (unfortunately not everyone is open to listening). Call out oil and gas CEOs in the process!

We're stronger together. Go cause trouble.

Conor