Ed Stelmach has finally forced the Mark Holland controversy into the mainstream. Unsurprisingly, the Canadian Press piece is framed as a dismissive rebuttal and expose’ of Alberta’s failure to curb emissions. That’s what “journalists” do when they’re dragged kicking and screaming to a story they’d prefer be buried – they get even;
EDMONTON — Premier Ed Stelmach warned Monday of “dire economic consequences” if Alberta were ever forced to slow oilsands development to curb emissions that cause global warming.
Stelmach called reporters to his office to respond to what he said were recent comments by Ontario MP Mark Holland, the Liberal natural resources critic.
Holland was asked on a radio talk show if the Liberals would nationalize the oilsands if Alberta refused to go along with federal efforts to curb developments that increase emissions.
He responded by saying that a Liberal government would try to “work with (Alberta) collaboratively,” but added “there will be consequences” if the province refused.
Stelmach described the comments as “reprehensible” and insisted the Liberals were threatening to grab control of the oilsands.
“When we hear talk of perhaps nationalizing the oilsands — a moratorium on oilsands development will bring about dire economic consequences right across the country.”
In fact, Holland had issued a news release Friday in an effort to correct what he described as attempts to distort his comments.
Mark Holland’s comments are on tape and in the public domain. For Canadian Press to weasel his statements into a case of “he said, he said” is a blatant example of journalistic misdirection. Contrast the brevity of the “quotes” selected from Rutherford interview with the space devoted to damage control;
“The Liberal party will continue to support the development and expansion of the oilsands in a reasonable and sustainable manner,” he said in the release. “Any other characterization of our position is nothing more than an attempt to fear-monger.”
In an interview from Ottawa on Monday, Holland said he couldn’t figure out why the Alberta premier and others were twisting his comments.
“Perhaps by creating fear and distorting not only what I said, but the position of our party, that they think they can extract some political gain from it,” he said.
Warren Kinsella, fearmongerer? Now, watch the tables turn as they uncover Stelmach’s ‘lie’.
Stelmach also threw out some figures Monday suggesting Alberta has taken a leading role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Alberta is the only province on record that has actually reduced CO2 emissions by 16 per cent,” he said.
But the premier later conceded he was talking about so-called emissions intensity, which is a measurement against the growth in industrial production rather than a total measurement of what’s coming out of the smoke stack. If a company increases emissions at a slower rate than it increases production, then emissions intensity is reduced even though absolute emissions have increased.
An Alberta Environment official later confirmed that total emissions have increased by 40 per cent since 1990, but emissions intensity is down by 16 per cent over the same period.
NDP Leader Brian Mason described Alberta’s record as appalling and called for a moratorium on new oilsands projects.
“There’s approximately 50 (projects) that are up and running or in some form of approval and 100 more awaiting various stages of approval,” Mason told a news conference.
The same reporters who couldn’t be bothered to phone the Alberta premier for his response to Holland trotted over to an NDP news conference to record their reaction? In Alberta?
If you thought the silence of last week was a mainstream media shielding Mark Holland from his own words, you’re wrong.
They endorse them.
Previous posts
Update The Calgary Sun’s Darcy Henton was standing closer to the front.
I guess when the truth is too hard to deal with, the MSM has no where to turn but fabrication and distortion.
“NDP Leader Brian Mason described Alberta’s record as appalling and called for a moratorium on new oilsands projects.”
Gee, I guess Alberta doesn’t need another NEP to encourage suicidal behaviour amongst its own citizens, eh?
Seems like the MSM is as “criminally organized” as the Lie-beral’s are.
Ahhh, the vast Liberal/MSM conspiracy…it looks like the Conservatives contempt of the media is comming back to haunt them.
Iberia:
If memory serves, the media had contempt for the Conservatives long before the Conservatives developed their own particular loathing of the media.
Fortunately, “freedom of the press” is no longer restricted to those who can afford to own one.
But did Holland ever say that the “consequences” would be nationalization? I could give less than half a crap over either the Libs or Cons (they are equally as bad from my perspective), but I just don’t see where Holland says it. I see Stelmach saying he think that it is what Holland implies – but Holland never actually says it.
I also don’t see where Holland says that they would “stop oil sands production.” Adler asks him “You mean taking less stuff out of the sands is what you’re saying” and Holland replies “Exactly, using it responsibly, over a protracted period of time, making sure that we can actually meet our international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
He is replying to the question “taking less stuff out,” not ceasing all production.
I just think that as far as the MSM goes, you are stooping to their level – you are reading into his statement and finding what you want. Politically, it serves the CPC to paint Holland and Dion as wanting to nationalize the oil industry and stop production despite the fact they never said it.
I know in advance that most of the replies will be “but there the Liebrano’s” or something about lefties, but let’s stick to what is being said. And I just don’t see it.
Why Unions support a job destroying NDP with their stated gols of making less jobs plus keep only programs that increase poverty, is beyond beleif.
These are a shifty lot.
By the way Iberia you have it backwards. They (MSM) have shown their true face in this Holland Blackout. One most people will not forget or forgive.
Now we see how this Country has gone nuts. By the way try searching out the old arcives of papers than comapring their readership to today. Its the MSM that’s killing itself by bias.
Tyhe real Journalists have figured out people want reality, not fiction to feed on.They are making a lot of money doing it as well. The liars are in desperation. Check it out.
“Taking less stuff out of the oilsands” isn’t Mark Holland’s call – unless he intends to enforce it on Alberta by the back door, through federal regulatory intervention.
At that point, he’s already crossed that line in the oil sands. There is no way to weasel out of his statement. The intent was clear.
In the Rutherford interview, the question was clear. And he didn’t answer with a direct “no”. He left the threat hanging.
For a province that has endured one NEP, you don’t get to make such statements and then wander away pretending you were misunderstood.
The most generous thing you can say about Holland and Dion is that they are dangerously ignorant of this issue and its implications for national unity. That fact alone should disqualify either from positions of legislative authority.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach is getting a lesson in CP news dissemination early in his career as head honcho in the province.
Fortunately the duplicity of news disseminators with a left wing agenda can be circulated on the internet within hours,
if not minutes of publication of bias, exactly as this issue is now on SDA.
For a time Mark Holland may be given his free ride regarding his statements, but in the long haul the blogosphere will have cast enough light onto a piece that was ‘nuanced’ to suit the agenda of the news disseminator – CP.
Absolutely, the Canadian MSM is biased in favour of liberals.
And the LPC will nationalize the Tar Sands just as soon as they regain power from Steve Dubya later this spring.
Since your one and only shot at a neocon devolution is about to fail, why don’t y’all move south to the USA?
OK Dodos,
Any attempt by the Feds to regulate the pace of oilsands development would be illegal and unconstitutional. The Feds would be usurping the function of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board.
Go here and plow around in the “Distribution of Legislative Powers” section. You don’t need to be a lawyer. You will also notice that environmental regulation (unlike resource development) is a power not ascribed to the feds or the provinces.
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/Const/index.html
What Stelmach doesn’t mention, because he likely thinks Holland is just a rogue idiot, is that a move by Ottawa to regulate resource development would abrogate a key condition by which Alberta entered confederation.
And if Dr. Didlittle does in fact want to stick his tongue on that particular third rail he’d better be ready. Because the conflict it would ignite is going to involve issues much more existential in nature for Canada than a 5% contribution to man made global GHG emissions.
Quantum, if we did that, who would pay for all your wonderful national programs?
Besides, it’d be easier to pass the hat to help you move south. I’m thinking there’s a nice little shanty in Caracas with your name on it. You could be a handy lapdog for regime just a little less corrupt than the Dionites you drool over.
A Quantum: When we move to the USA after the divorce, like any abused spouse, we will take Alberta with us.
Sorry for the confusion, I was being sarcastic. I thought y’all just whine about the “liberal media bias” thingy for fun. A sort of political venting. I had no idea y’all seriously believe that, as opposed to the notion that the media in Canada prints what Canadians want to read.
Besides, I’m confident the development (and mass production) of an excellent energy storage device for use in electric cars is just around the corner. Certainly long before a majority of Albetans could be convinced to separate from Canada.
yukon,
Out of curiosity, which national programs are you assuming I’d like the Tar Sands (or to be less of a jerk, I’ll say taxes in general) to pay for?
lberia: “..it looks like the Conservatives contempt of the media is comming back to haunt them.”
Huh? I thought the MSM was a business. What do the Conservatives have to do with MSMs’ customers … you know the people that read/watch/listen or the advertisers. It’s MSMs’ contempt of them that has MSM swimming in a sea of red ink.
It is also this contempt that has their former customers running to find alternatives. Fortunately alternatives exist … and more are coming.
Bart, I rather suspect that the feds would use the “Clean Air Act” and regulations thereto as well as the taxing power to impose caps on emissions. If a plant exceeds the cap it is fined/taxed.
All constitutional, all legal: which is an excellent reason why the Liberals must not gain a majority.
Then all the Conservatives have to do is hope that they can stay in power long enough to see all those conspiratorial MSM outlets go broke.
Well Quantum, hard for you to be less of a jerk then you have already proved yourself to be, but go for it, you might win the SDA jerk award.
As an Albertan, from birth, I will never make my kids live through a NEPII, NEVER! So, call us Albertan’s knockle dragging neo-cons all you want, but, we are the force that is driving the Canadian economy, you want us to leave, just watch us!
Hope you don’t freeze in the dark. Maybe hydro Quebec can save you!
The Republic of Western Canada…..Sounds great!
The point being Kate that you are implying, both implicitly and explicitly, that Holland said he wants to nationalize the industry or shut it down. He didn’t say that. Attack him for saying that he would “take less stuff out of the oil sands.” You are implying that he is saying more in order to gain more political points against your opponents. As I’ve always said – there is more than another fodder to attack both parties, no need to imply more (or make stuff up) in order to make your point.
Here’s a proto-Librano philosopher offering some advice to dodo, quantum and the rest of the liberal boot-licking gang that come her to spew their bile.
The other thing all the Conservatives can do is DONATE to the CPC. The MSM won’t get our message out. We have to do it ourselves. Remember, for any donation up to $400 you get back 75% come tax time. I send smaller amounts when I can and it adds up. Then I get most of it back.
The big advantage the CPC has is the cash to fight an election. Lets all help to keep it that way.
hunter, scientists (I know I know, they’re just another branch of the LPC, ROFL!) are rapidly closing in on several different types of energy storage devices (for you scientifically illiterate cons, think batteries). Couple that with a plethora of diverse cheap, residential solar photovoltaics coming online (even sooner) and Oilberta is out of business.
Central Canada won’t have to kill Tar Sands development, the market will. And soon.
Looks to me Hapless Eddie will be an easy eastern media Kick boy.
As for the lapdog media pushing against Alberta…frig ’em…It’s provincial jurisdiction and the ONLY people that have a say live in the province….do we have to mention there will be consequences for an eastern media feeding frenzie on Alberta?
kate
Good point. This is going to be hard for the libs to walk away from. I heard both the Adler and Rutherford bits. The intent seems clear.
Quantum Lib.
As an actual Albetan…..Albertan if you will. This ain’t no joke. Please enlighten me.This free electrik thingy sounds sooo coool!!!
Syncro
A Quantum Liberal:”the market will. And soon.”
Ballard Power Systems Inc. was founded in 1979 under the name Ballard Research Inc. to conduct research and development in high-energy lithium batteries.
Help me here … that was 28 years ago, right? Still in demonstration … been at least 8 years of that.
Don’t get me wrong, I (and I think everyone) would love to see an alternative energy solution. I know it will happen … just doubt a practical solution any time soon.
Lithium batteries? What a joke. If that’s the extent of your knowledge regarding energy storage, then I’ll just laugh all the harder when your oil dream ends and your separation fantasy becomes financially impossible.
lberia,
I don’t think the Conservatives are “hoping” anything … think Super Bowl ads.
Please splain…oh wise ones.
Syncro
(not-so) Fast Eddie says that it “…will bring about dire economic consequences right across the country.”
How about dire political consequences like the end of AB’s participation in Confederation?
What Mr. Holland – the natural resources critic for HM’s Oppositon Party – was threatening was nothing less than a usurpation – a takeover – of Alberta’s (and SK’s?) sovereignty over its resources and the best Stelamch can reply with is that it will hurt all of canada (i.e. that those who would do this would suffer too)?
Mr. Ed is a naive child when it comes to federal-provincial relations. Time for him to grow-up and grow a pair.
A Quantum Liberal,
I did not claim I knew anything about energy storage. I took a quote from a Vancouver based company, Ballard Power Systems Inc. I thought they might know something about energy storage … taxpayers have been pumping millions of dollars into them.
I think the link below shows the latest non-practical cell.
http://www.ballard.com/be_informed/fuel_cell_technology/how_the_technology_works
Quantum Liberal:
Please explain your theory(s)for your projection of fossil fuel’s imminent demise as an economic energy source.
As someone who has been involved in pretty much all aspects of energy from nuclear to fossil to inorganic renewables (solar,wind,tidal and hydro) and organic renewables (waste and plant-based) for the past 20 years, I would very much like to learn about something that I haven’t heard of so far.
“How about dire political consequences like the end of AB’s participation in Confederation?”
That’s what the Emergencies Act is for. So go ahead and fantasize all you want…it will never happen.
However, if you have a problem with the way Canada is (or possibly will be) run, feel free to pack up and drive south. No one will stop you.
Getting this issue raised is important, but Ed Stelmach doesn’t seem to be nearly as good as raising shit about it than Ralph Klein would have been in his prime. Fortunately, Ted Morton is Alberta’s minister of sustainable resource development – I presume this relates to oil sands also (correct me if I’m wrong).
The scenario of the liebrals attempting to stop oil sands development is merely hypothetical at the moment (and should give extra motivation to ensure that the liebrals don’t get a majority in the next election), but it would be prudent to hedge ones bets by joining one of the separatist Alberta parties. Having gotten disgusted with politics once Reform morphed, I’m not up on which the best party to join would be, but if a separatist party had a few hundred thousand members this would send a strong statment to Ottawa (as well as putting into place necessary organization to use if necessary). I happen to live in the interior of BC but would have no hesitation supporting separation from TROC should the situation come down to this. A number of people have suggested joining the US which I think would be a mistake. We could take the US constitution but leave behind much of the statist baggage that the US government has accumulated. All hypothetical of course.
The plan that Holland seems to be so opposed to involves, I believe, raising oil sands production to around 5 M barrels/day and building signficant refining capacity in Alberta. This would do a lot to lessen N. America’s dependence on foreign oil. It would be especially nice if a large nuclear power program were to go along with this oil sand expansion.
I suspect that Quantum Liberal’s hints about revolutionary energy sources are merely BS. I would love to have a fusion powered automobile with a room-temperature superconductor battery, but I doubt I’m going to see anything like this in my lifetime, unfortunately. Even if something like this was waiting in the wings, it would take decades for such fusion powered vehicles to suplant existing gasoline powered vehicles. Ironically, should something like this be out there, Alberta would probably be in the best position to attract this type of industry to the province given the huge amount of money it has in its heritage fund.
In the short run, if Ontario is so in favor of meeting Canada’s Kyoto committments, I suggest now would be an excellent time for them to start. I believe this would require them to cut their fossil fuel consumption by 40%. Every human is equivalent to a 100W bulb, and this would be as good a time as any to end the wastefull practice of having only a few people in an apartment. Penguins at the south pole are able to stay warm by congregating in large masses and by congregating in groups of a few thousand Ontarians could stay warm without making global warming worse. This might disrupt sleep a bit as people on the outside would be inclined to migrate towards the center of the mass as they get cold, but as penguins manage to do this while incubating eggs on their feet I’m sure people would be able to do this far more easily. After all, UN experts tell us that that unless we stop CO2 emissions, global warming is going to make winters much much colder.
Iberia:
If you think that the actions that Mr. Holland suggested would not have severe political repercussions then it is you who is fantasizing not me. (and it is hardly a dream for me to see the promise that this Confederation has for all who live within it torn apart by ignorant attempts at confiscation)
If Central Canada thinks it can pull a stunt like dictating the pace of oilsands development in AB and get away with it, it will get what it deserves should they actually try to do it. Alberta will not be dictated to – not this time.
loki:”correct me if I’m wrong”
Your wrong – Ted has fish and forests.
Mel Knight has energy.
The msm has gone hysterical on the Kyota thingie, they almost foam at the mouth. Are they putting something in the water at the forth estate?
Msm have almost abandoned all serious news stories. They have two themes; ramble on about incidents with a sentimental, emotional twist, right on ‘Q’ their eyes gloss over (for the sad) and their mouths twist to show how much they ‘care’. The other theme is Koyota, over and over; for that theme their eyes take on a fanatical white eyed big pupil freaky look and the mouth is a slit. If they mention the Canadian Government they call our chosen government the “Harper Conservatives” and look like nasty, spoiled teenagers who just had their car privileges revoked. They actually sneer! How can they look at themselves in a mirror? Don’t they know that we can all see right through them? Those newspersons are all past 13 years of age but they appear to be ‘stuck’ in the tweenny years, mentally and emotionally.
Do they believe the old line about the ‘nice soft, comfy fur’ that they will have to sit on if only the Liberanos and French citizen Dion get themselves back into power? If the French citizen that they are protecting ever gets into power he will gut the economy of what is left of this nation so bad that they might find themselves working to make a living. And it will not be ‘izzy’ money in Alta oil patch – those soft palmed, mental midgets would not last ten minutes if they ever got a job – even as a cook or cleaner!
My mom says ‘Be careful what you wish for’, I’m happy to pass that on to the people that would sell my beautiful country to the ‘shackles for humanity’ crowd and their elitists masters.
The Holland threat is not being discussed because the msm is, as Kate says, endorsing what he says! It is not newsworthy because the msm want to send the message that it is not controversial to steal from the west to gratify the Liberano -socialist elitist crooks. That is the way it has always been done, ‘what is to talk about’? Msm want things ‘back to normal’.
We must not let this threat go unanswered, French citizen Dion has to either get rid of Holland or endorse what Holland says – he must be made accountable. Our nation needs the answer right now.
Holland: “WE will manage that resource”
Waugh (Edm Sun): “I hope they have a fresh copy of the Clarity Act down at the Legislature.”
I’m thinkin’ the Clarity Act trumps the Emergencies Act, no?
Sorry guys I think you are all over reacting.
If the liberal win the next election, and that is a big IF, Dion will soon realise that he cannot do anything to stop the continued development of the Alberta tar sands.
The Americans government now has a big bull’s eye on the Alberta part of the Canadian map. They not only want our oil, they absolutely need it! Any attempt by Dion and his buffoons to stop the development of the Alberta tar sands will result with one phone call from the president of the United States, it doesn’t matter if this president is a republican or a democrat, because either of them will say three words to Dion that will send the poor man running and screaming incoherently.
What three words you may wonder could send a once sane academic into utter lunacy?
Autopac? What autopac?
Thanks for the correction ural. I just assumed that oilsands were a renewable resource, but happened to be using the wrong timescale.
Too bad he doesn’t have this portfolio.
the first question regarding electric cars is”where the hell are you going to get the electrical capacity to charge all those batteries?????”…are you saying that the librano/moonbat crowd is all of a sudden going to embrace nuclear power????let’s see, premier mcidiot will not even apply for the building permit for one new nuclear plant…..then the safety issues come to mind..once again, a typical librano/moonbat living in some sort of utopian dreamworld where we all drive electric cars, eat soy, and live in straw houses….librano idiot!
I was kind of wondering when someone was going to point out the difference between “source” and “storage”.
The solution to our energy problems – bigger batteries.
Holy cow.
C’mon folks…A Quantum Liberal has got a point…pretty soon now, the Starship Enterprise will arrive from the future and teach us about dilithium crystals and our reliance on oil will end. Don’t you folks watch the movies?
/sarc off
AQL, read any technical publication you want (not science fiction magazines) and you will find that the implementation of any of these new energy sources are decades away from supplanting oil. Even hydrogen power cells (which are one of the the closest new technologies to implementation) will likely have the hydrogen produced from oil / gas.
You shouldn’t have wasted your post-secondary education on a Bachelor of Arts degree if you wanted to talk about Applied Science.
Interesting is that Paul Stanway and Tom Olson from the MSM were recently hired by the Stelmach gov’t to do communications – probably Feb 1.
Olson did political writing for the Calgary Herald while based in Edmonton and covered the leadership race.
So far the gov’t reaction to the Holland rants doesn’t seem to be what a whole lot of people are expecting to get.
There are times when silence is golden but as regards this issue, it is probably not one of those times. The time delay in response has already spoken volumes and whatever comes down now had better be very good.
The Auto Pact was ended by a WTO dispute panel decison in 2001.
Is this not the epitome of AGENDA JOURNALISM.
They’ve blatantly taken sides on a very legitimate debate, and their openly advocating for that side.
Not in opionion pieces. But in reporting (and failing to report) only certain aspects of the news.
A blatant abuse of thier position as “trusted purveyors of news and information.”
“However, if you have a problem with the way Canada is (or possibly will be) run, feel free to pack up and drive south. No one will stop you.”
Well, yes, the INS will stop you. Canadians are not free to emigrate to the USA as they wish.
By your logic, Iberia, Kim Jong Il can use the same response to silence his critics. Those who do not like his leadership are free to leave.
How about this, instead: “if you have a problem with the way Canada is (or possibly will be) run, feel free to exercise your right to kick the leadership in the backside, as hard as you can, until things change for the better.”
You really have to wonder about individuals like Quantum Liberal. Are they truly unaware of the depths of their own ignorance? Where do they think the energy stored in those batteries comes from. It reminds me of an information meeting I attended back in the 80. Some idiot stood up and asked an official why we would want to use something dirty like natural gas for energy when we could use a clean source like electricity. I’m not kidding. I guess this fellow thought there was some kind of giant plug in the sky providing electricity.
Canada has become an increasingly urban society. Urban dwelling have very little first hand knowledge of were the neccessities of life come from. They have no concept of the hard work that goes into providing the priviledged lives they lead. This makes it very easy for the MSM to lead these urban dwellers down the garden path to drink the Kyoto Koolaid.
Do these people not think farther than their noses. How in the world could we possibly reduce our energy consumption by 33%. How many people would be content to heat their homes to 14 degrees C? What about all those Urban Ontario people who travel 2-3 hours a day to go to work? They should all give up their nice homes in the burbs and live in highrise shoe boxes so they can all walk to work. How many of these Urban Ontario people are going to give up their air conditioners in that humid 30 degree heat? Are they going to want to give up their fresh fruit and vegetables in the winter time? How about all that energy wasted running luxuries such as TV, radio and computers ? How about reducing the temperature of your hot water for shower by 35% ? Wouldn’t that be nice? We could also all start eating raw food . How about going to bed as soon as it gets dark so we don’t use energy for electric lights? I could go on and on. If this Kyoto nightmare ever comes to pass and the rubber hits the road the cold hard reality will hit with a vengence.
Precisely, Kate. Some people honestly, if naively, think that good batteries are all that are required to end our energy woes. Most look like you’ve beaten their puppy when you explain that the energy has got to come from somewhere.
To their credit, some people attempt to think. They point out that switching to electric cars would solve the urban smog problem. I get this really strange look when I ask them if they let their dog poop in the neighbour’s yard. Clueless!
A quantum liberal says… “Couple that with a plethora of diverse cheap, residential solar photovoltaics coming online”
I dabble professionally in this area: No such photovoltaics are coming on line. I am aware of what likely are the highest efficiency devices on and about the planet. I have a reasonably good grasp of the design criteria, manufacturing requirements and economics.
There are two potential solutions for mass solar power solutions: (1) polymer-dispersed core-shell colloidal quantum dots, or (2) multi-junction, multi-sun semiconductor-embedded quantum dot systems with solar concentrator. The first potential solution needs some major physics and chemistry work, and is a potential environmental nightmare. The second is a serious engineering integration problem, currently fantastically expensive, and far from prototyping, let alone mass deployment.
And then, of course, there’s always the problem of convincing the sun to shine 24/7, and paving over major portions of real estate with collectors.
Ladies and gentlemen, I hate to keep disabusing the faithful, but solar will always, by its very nature, be only a supplemental source. Its major potential contributions are in energy diversification, which is a sane de-risk strategy, and in reversing urbanization trends.