It is falsely assumed that big projects equal lots of jobs and, by extension, labour peace if not outright satisfaction. The size and scope of the tarsands means for incredibly dangerous work conditions-- some fatalities at the plants have already occurred. The products seldom get their "value added" in union-run locations, instead the heavy bitumen can be shipped to many different locations across North America for refining, denying benefits to the union. However, the Union does not represent the "guest worker", now being imported in increasing numbers as legislation is changed to make access easier, the term of exploitation last longer, without any new efforts or pathways to deciding to stay after helping tear up the earth.
Energy East, Line 9 pipelines would be boost for Quebec refinery sector: Suncor
Jeff Lewis | 12/11/13
CALGARY – Rival plans to pipe Alberta crude east would safeguard jobs and encourage investment in Quebec’s struggling refinery sector, the president and chief executive of Suncor Energy Inc. said Tuesday.
The Next Frontier for Pipeline Organizing Is Your Backyard
The Nation
November 4, 2013
Rick Perlstein
Keystone XL: Two conflicting truths
by Erica Alini on Thursday, August 29, 2013
Joshua Roberts/Reuters
Where oil meets water: The final stop for the Energy East pipeline
SHAWN McCARTHY - GLOBAL ENERGY REPORTER
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — The Globe and Mail
Published Saturday, Aug. 31 2013
On a point of land jutting into the open waters of the fabled Bay of Fundy, Canada’s long-sought ambition to become a global oil exporter is coming into focus.
Here at Mispec Point, Irving Oil Ltd. and TransCanada Corp. plan to build a $300-million, deep-water marine terminal that would give Western Canadian crude producers their highly coveted direct access to world markets.
New pipeline plan can’t obscure Keystone XL failure: Tim Harper
The politicization of the Keystone XL pipeline proposal threatens damage to Canada-U.S. relations, even before the decision.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has raised the issue of the Keystone XL pipeline with U.S. President Barack Obama at every turn, to apparently little effect, writes Tim Harper.
By: Tim Harper
National Affairs, Published on Thu Aug 01 2013
TransCanada to build oil pipeline to Atlantic Coast
By Rob Gillies / The Associated Press
August 1, 2013
Portland Press Herald
TORONTO — Pipeline company TransCanada said Thursday it will go ahead with a $12 billion plan to ship 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Western Canada to the country's Atlantic coast that would replace foreign oil in Eastern Canada and allow for Canadian crude to be exported to Asia and Europe.
A Black Mound of Canadian Oil Waste Is Rising Over Detroit
WINDSOR, Ontario — Assumption Park gives residents of this city lovely views of the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit skyline. Lately they’ve been treated to another sight: a three-story pile of petroleum coke covering an entire city block on the other side of the Detroit River.
The New York Times
By IAN AUSTEN
Published: May 17, 2013
Detroit’s ever-growing black mountain is the unloved, unwanted and long overlooked byproduct of Canada’s oil sands boom.
Goldman Sachs: Killing the Keystone XL Pipeline Kills Canadian Oil Sands
By Mat McDermott
Motherboard
Contrary to what the U.S. State Department says, stopping the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline would have a large impact on the financial viability of future expansion of tar sands projects, as shipping all that bitumen--oil's heavy, vicous tar form--out via rail would be just too expensive and logistically challenging. For the Canadian tar-sand oil boom to continue, they're going to need to open that vein.
Maine town opposes tar sands oil in pipeline
Jun 12, 2013
HARRISON, Maine (AP) - Residents in a Maine town have passed a resolution opposing the pumping of Canadian tar sands oil through a pipeline for shipment overseas.
Residents in Harrison voted 156-59 for the resolution Tuesday, one of at least six towns to do so.
The pipeline is used to carry foreign crude oil from Maine to Montreal. Five miles stretch through Harrison.
South Portlanders petition to put tar-sands project on the ballot
Pre-emptive Petitioning
The Portland Phoenix
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 13, 2013
In the latest pre-emptive salvo against a potential project that has garnered significant advance attention, a group of South Portlanders has launched a citizens' initiative to change the city's zoning ordinance in order to prevent the Portland Pipe Line Corporation from processing tar-sands oil through its Casco Bay facility.
