TransAlta signs Alberta data centre deal with CPP Investments and Brookfield.
Strengthening Saskatchewan’s Grid: Harrison releases plan for electrical transmission upgrades
The NDP take on recent SaskPower announcements and the impact on power bills
On the topic of Alberta succession:
Herb Pinder: Uncertainty begets opportunity
Brian Crossman: Alberta (and Saskatchewan?) Separation
From the column:
“The list of countries and empires that have broken up over that past several hundred years is not a short one. Sudan split into two countries by referendum in 2011. Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Egypt and Syria and many others. The Soviet Union, the British Empire are gone, the United States came close in 1861, and there is no promise that the republic will endure forever. Will Canada, or the world map look the same in 50 to 100 years? I’m betting not, and it seems pretty arrogant to think otherwise.”
Some may question why is this relevant to Saskatchewan? It is my understanding that recent polling showed support for separation a few weeks ago was 2 per cent higher in Saskatchewan than it is in Alberta. So it’s relevant.
Here’s a thought experiment which could turn into a column: If Alberta and possibly Saskatchewan were to separate – do they really need much of a military? To defend against who, the pot smokers of Vancouver? Do they need a navy? Nope. No water, unless they snag Prince Rupert and Kitimat – which could happen, if the rednecks invade the Left Coast. But even then, no real navy would be needed. Air force? Probably not much of one for that, either. Who are they going to bomb, Timmins, Ont? That’s a lot of money saved right there, on top of ditching equalization.
And regarding wind power generation, I just posted this.
For 52 minutes straight on Saturday, Alberta’s 1760 wind turbines had zero output and couldn’t charge a cellphone
…. and its’s still showing zero right now, for at least another 24 minutes, and counting.
Herb Pinder: The West also has ‘special status’
Murray Lyons: Build Saskatchewan’s big reactors on Codette Lake or Tobin Lake
Should Saskatchewan buy the CANDU reactor when it comes to building large-scale nuclear in this province? Carl Marcotte Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Business Development at CANDU Energy, part of AtkinsRealis, makes the pitch. Building large reactors will only be the largest, most expensive decision made by this province for generations.
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 29: Carl Marcotte, CANDU Energy
I’m hoping to get Westinghouse on in a future episode, as the main competitor.
Related: Cameco CEO on whirlwind Washington trip for talks on reactor deal
Also – Jim Warren: Critical questions about the Alberta-Ottawa pipeline MOU remain unanswered
Enbridge unfazed by prospect of more Venezuelan oil headed to Gulf Coast
TC Energy sets growth sights on U.S. data centre boom
Bronwyn Eyre: Why the fed-prov ‘MOU’ is ‘Mission Outstandingly Unlikely’
Things have been looking really bleak for southwest Saskatchewan’s oilpatch. If this were a medical drama, this would be where the doctor puts the paddles on the dying patient’s chest, yells, “Clear!” and shocks the patient.
We might have just seen a little blip on the heart monitor with this land sale.
Whew! Southwest Saskatchewan sees more interest in this land sale than in all of 2025 combined
And yes, it is that bad. Most oilfield services in that region have either shut down or are barely hanging on. I spent an hour yesterday talking to the owner of several businesses in that area.
What if your job, your mortgage, your ability to feed your kids hinged on a 12-year-old’s climate crusade?
Because yet again, for Saskatchewan coal workers, it does.
Oh, and two weeks ago, CBC gave that very kid an award for their activism, for this very case. And I use “they” for a reason.
BREAKING: Round two: Appeal filed on coal decision ruling.
At question: Do a 12 year old, a podcaster and someone who doesn’t even live here get to kill 1100 coal-related jobs? According the Court of King’s Bench, no, they don’t. Governments get to make those sorts of decisions, and can’t be second guessed by the courts.
Well, these applicants are taking a second round at second guessing.
Here’s the full meal deal on large nuclear reactors for Saskatchewan.
Also:
It’s the busiest time of the year for oil drilling in Saskatchewan.
Pipeline Online Podcast: Ep. 28 Senator Pamela Wallin
Brad Wall: Mark Carney’s Davos speech made things worse with the very people we need to make a deal with.
Every so often, former premier Wall sends me a column. I got this one yesterday.
Natural gas and coal kept Saskatchewan’s lights on during frigid weather. As in, nearly every furnace in this province saw its fan running as a result of natural gas and coal, right when we needed it most.
Also: Bronwyn Eyre inaugural recipient of new award for Canadian champions of freedom. She happens to be cohost of the Pipeline Online Podcast and a regular columnist.
Brian Crossman: Artificial Intelligence, the oilpatch, and John Wick’s dog.
And under the file of “I’ll believe it when I see it”: If elected, the Parti Québécois would not necessarily oppose new gas or oil pipelines
Donald Trump’s speech to the WEF at Davos.
Oh, yeah, and he has something of a response to Carney’s speech the previous day, too.
Mark Carney’s speech in Davos, verbatim, and in video.
I informed some people I was with on Tuesday I am starting a new drinking game. Every time I hear an otherwise conservative politician say something nice about Mark Carney, drink.
It turns out that bottle of Scotch I got for Christmas could go pretty quick. The people I was with were conservative politicians. Take that for what you will.
Brian Zinchuk: We are living in 1938, again hearing the drumbeats of war
Do you want to send your kid to “go stop a bullet?”
Weekend Watch: Is Canada Wasting Its Energy Advantage? | Doomberg on Oil, LNG, and the Pipeline Future
There’s some pretty good discussion about Saskatchewan at the 30 minute mark.
Also, from Canadian Press: Carney says Qatar will make ‘significant’ investments in Canada’s major projects.
At least Carney isn’t dressing up in local dress like Trudeau did in India. Take that for what you will.
Here’s what Carney, Moe, Beck and Ford posted about meeting with Chinese President Xi and the resulting trade deal
Backgrounder on the deal.
Also, Kaase Gbakon: Venezuela by the Numbers: What 60 Years of Energy Data Reveal About Its Future
BREAKING: Coal injunction tossed; court says governments get to make environmental policy. In other words, the coal injunction is dead it its tracks. @SaskPower can rejuvenate its coal fleet. The decision is a rebuke of the trend of judge-made law and activist courts, clearly noting the supremacy of the legislative branch in making policy.
This is a huge decision on many points – not just on coal, but on putting activist judges in their place. It will be cited for a long time to come.
The pendulum just may be swinging back to sanity.
Also: NDP criticizes impending SaskPower rate hikes, minister responds
High wind output in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with zero dollar pricing in Wild Rose Country
Anyone buy sidewalk salt recently? Notice they now ship air instead of salt?
Also:
The past and potential of Venezuela’s oil sector, and what it means for Canada
Weekend Watch: The Broken Barrel – How Venezuela’s rebirth could impact Canada