The Dominion
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The world’s largest industrial project and the future of Canada
TAR SAndS
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The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 3
Harper’s Index ~ ISSN 1710-0283 ~
www.dominionpaper.ca
W
dru@dominionpaper.ca
e are currently the fifth largest energy producer in the world.
PO Box 741 Station H
We rank third and seventh in global gas and oil production
respectively. We generate more hydro-electric power than Montréal, QC H3G 2M7
any other country on Earth. And we are the world’s largest The Dominion is a pan-Canadian
supplier of uranium. But that’s just the beginning. media cooperative that seeks
to provide a counterpoint to
Our government is making new investments in renewable energy sources the corporate media and direct
such as biofuels. And an ocean of oil-soaked sand lies under the muskeg of Northern Alber- attention to independent critics
ta–my home province. The oil sands are the second-largest oil deposit in the world, bigger
and the work of social movements.
than Iraq, Iran or Russia; exceeded only by Saudi Arabia.
The Dominion is published
Digging the bitumen out of the ground, squeezing out the oil and converting it into synthetic monthly in print and on the web.
crude is a monumental challenge. It requires vast amounts of capital, Brobdingnagian tech- Publisher
nology and an army of skilled workers. In short, it is an enterprise of epic proportions, akin to The Dominion
the building of the pyramids or China’s Great Wall. Only bigger. Newspaper Cooperative
Editor
By 2015, Canadian oil production is forecast to reach almost four million barrels a day. Two
-thirds of it will come from the oil sands. Even now, Canada is the only non-OPEC country with Dru Oja Jay
growing oil deliverability. And let’s be clear. Managing Editors
Stuart Neatby
We are a stable, reliable producer in a volatile, unpredictable world. We believe in the free Hillary Lindsay
exchange of energy products based on competitive market principles, not self-serving monop- Arts Editor
olistic political strategies. That’s why policymakers in Washington–not to mention investors
Michelle Tarnopolsky
in Houston and New York–now talk about Canada and continental energy security in the
Original Peoples Editor
same breath.
Kim Petersen
That’s why Canada surpassed the Saudis four years ago as the largest supplier of petroleum Agriculture Editor
products to the United States. And that’s why industry analysts are recommending Canada Hillary Lindsay
as “possessing the most attractive combination of circumstances for energy investment of any Environment Editor
place in the world.” Yuill Herbert
Review Editor
—Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
addressing the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce Linda Besner
July 14, 2006 Gender Editor
Anna Carastathis
Chief Copy Editor
Ross Lockhart
Copy Editors
Visit the tar sands issue online to: Kate Kennedy
Moira Peters
• Find out about events and discussions near you Tim McSorley
• Order copies of the paper to distribute locally Cover Illustration
Sylvia Nickerson
• Discuss the tar sands with our journalists www.sylvianickerson.ca
• Read additional articles and watch videos
• Donate to help cover the printing and mailing costs OilSandsTruth.org provided
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4 Excerpt The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Tar Sands and the American Automobile
Crude heads south, keeps cars on the road
by Bianca Mugyenyi and
Yves Engler
The following is an edited
excerpt from a forthcoming
book, tentatively titled Stop
Signs: A road trip through the
USA to explore the culture,
politics and economics of the
car.
Across the globe, sprawling
auto-dependent development
is pushing oil extraction into
increasingly sensitive environ-
ments. Far from the “light sweet
crude” of the Niger Delta, the
heavy oil trapped in Alberta’s
tar sands is among the filthiest
sources in the world; with up
to three-quarters of the final
product destined for the US
market, tar sands oil extrac-
tion has been labelled the most
destructive process known to A traffic jam during shift change, near Fort McMurray. The tar sands will primarily fuel North
mankind. Viewed from above, America’s vast fleet of cars. Dru Oja Jay
the tar sands are as picturesque
as a pair of dirty lungs and the half times as much water is process requires two tonnes of 188 pounds of carbon dioxide
stench of tar can be smelled for needed to thin-out the mixture sand. In 2003, Alberta’s Envi- equivalent into the atmosphere.
miles. Amid a tangle of pipes, and separate the bitumen from ronment Ministry reported that Comparing the greenhouse
waste ponds and smoke, an envi- the sand. To obtain this stag- 430-square kilometres of land emissions of a conventional
ronmental demolition derby gering volume of water, whole had been “disturbed” for the oil barrel of crude to a barrel of tar
of 50-ft, 300-tonne monster streams and rivers in the region sands. By summer 2006, that sands oil, a New York Times
trucks roam a wasteland riddled have been drained and diverted. number had reached 2,000- article noted, “A gallon of gas
with 200-foot-deep open pits. We don’t need Erin Brockovich square kilometres, nearly a from oil sands, because of the
Gouged out with dinosaur-sized to tell us something is wrong five-fold increase in three years energy-intensive production
claws, Athabascan oil is mined, with the water; sucked out for (even though only two per cent methods, releases three times
not pumped. the extraction process and then of the oil sands–now hailed as much carbon overall as con-
Describing the tar sands as spat out again, most of it ends as one of the world’s largest ventionally produced gasoline.”
“hideous marvels,” Globe and up contaminated with acids, reserves–had been developed). The oil sands are located in and
Mail columnist Jeffrey Simpson mercury and other toxins. This Thousands of acres of trees around Fort McMurray (aka
writes: “They are terrible to wastewater has left Northern have already been clear-cut to Fort McMoney), a region with a
look at, from the air or from Alberta studded with toxic make way for tar sands mining population of 61,000. By 2015,
the ground. They tear the earth, dumping pools, better known and if current plans unfold, a Fort McMurray is expected to
create polluted mini-lakes as ‘tailing ponds.’ Not only are forest the size of Maryland and emit more greenhouse gases
called tailing ponds that can the tar sands being blamed for Virginia will be eliminated. The than all of Denmark.
be seen from space, spew forth Western Canada’s first ever decline in forests has led to a Describing “the rush into
air pollutants such as sulphur bout of acid rain, the residues major reduction in both the the oil sands” a Wall Street
dioxide and nitrogen oxide and pumped into the Athabasca region’s grizzly bear and moose Journal analyst writes: “For
emit greenhouse gases such as River have increased cancer populations, with oil explora- years, environmentalists have
carbon dioxide.” rates downstream, particularly tion also harming prairie birds argued that higher gasoline
“They are voracious users of among First Nations com- and other animal life. prices would be good for the
freshwater,” continues Simpson. munities dependent upon the The environmental Earth because paying more
Extracting the bitumen (crude waterway. The history of oil mayhem so far described is at the pump would promote
oil) from the thick and sticky extraction has always been the the tip of the iceberg. The tar conservation. Instead, higher
mix of clay, sand and water is history of suffering and the tar sands represent the biggest energy prices have unleashed
no easy feat and for every barrel sands are no exception. increase in Canadian carbon a bevy of heavy oil projects
of oil extracted, somewhere To produce a single barrel emissions, with every barrel of
between two and four-and-a- of oil, the tar sands extraction synthetic oil produced releasing continued on page 43 »
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Labour 5
Temporary Labour or Disposable Workers?
Foreign labourers are brought to the tar sands, but are easily sent home
by Tim Murphy “It’s a totally horrendous
situation. We need them des-
“So you believe in the free perately, but once they come
market?” here, they have no rights,” says
“Well, it’s not so much that Yessy Byl, TFW Advocate.
I believe in the free market, it’s “I’ve been pretty busy, it’s
that I demand logical consis- hard to pinpoint numbers, but
tency out of those who demand I’ve got over 100 case files. I
the free market,” answers talk to even more people to give
Jason Foster, director of Policy advice. I work with all foreign
Analysis for the Alberta Federa- workers in Alberta, from fast
tion of Labour (AFL). food to the trades. Maybe a third
According to Foster, wages of these are in the oil patch,”
in Alberta’s oil industry have says Byl.
not been allowed to follow Byl mentions two identifi-
the basic laws of supply and able themes to the types of cases
demand. Companies have used she deals with. The first is that
various tactics to prevent the of labour brokers. The second
rise of wages. One such tactic, is that of inadequate unemploy-
the Temporary Foreign Worker ment provisions.
Program, is of special concern TFWs usually get here by
to the AFL. dealing with a broker in their
Although he acknowledges home country. The broker
the existence of a labour crunch offers promises of a job or even
in places like Calgary and Fort immigration status in exchange
McMurray, Foster remains for a brokerage fee (reportedly
critical both of the Alberta between $500 and $5000). This
government and of the oil practice is illegal in Alberta, but
companies, citing their incon- it is difficult to stop, since most
sistencies in dealing with the of it is done from elsewhere, in
problem. The AFL has gone as places like California, or in the
far as to accuse the government worker’s country of origin.
Workers’ quarters in a camp near Fort McMurray. Temporary
of causing the current shortages “The brokers charge outra-
foreign workers are often at the mercy of their employers. Dru Oja Jay
by its refusal to pace develop- geous fees, contrary to Alberta
ment in the tar sands. The glut from outside the country who “It’s a litany of horror law. They mislead people as
of new construction, they claim, are prepared to work for less stories that almost smack of to what’s covered and what
has led to the current scarcity and without benefits–you artifi- servitude. They [the workers] isn’t. They understate the cost
of skilled tradespeople and the cially suppress wages.” are artificially subdued because of living. They bring them
subsequent push to hire foreign The numbers seem to the threat of being sent back is to Canada and dump them.
workers. support Foster’s claims of an always hanging over their heads Often, the job doesn’t even exist
“There are presently more influx of foreign workers in and so the complaints part of anymore,” adds Byl.
TFWs [Temporary Foreign Alberta’s oil patch. According to the process is largely silent.” Employers interested in
Workers] entering the province Murray Gross, a spokesperson The permit that allows hiring TFWs must first apply
each year than there are for Human Resources and Skills foreigners to work in Canada for a Labour Market Opinion,
permanent immigrants,” says Development Canada (HRSDC), has their employer’s name on it. which is basically a survey
Foster. “The entire strategy in 2006, Citizenship and Immi- Although they are theoretically of the Canadian workforce
of the government has shifted gration Canada issued a total entitled to the same employ- designed to determine whether
away from bringing people to of 15,172 new temporary work ment and labour rights as or not the job requirements can
Alberta to allow them to have permits for Alberta, bringing Canadian workers, they don’t be filled locally and whether or
the full rights of citizenship and the total number of temporary have the same freedom to act on not there is a real need to hire
become members of our com- foreign workers in the province those rights, since they can be outside of Canada. In 2004, the
munities. to 22,392. By comparison, in sent home at any time, without governments of Canada and
“They’ve now shifted it to 2005, 15,815 were working in question and at the discretion of Alberta signed a Memorandum
say we want a revolving door of Alberta. the employer. of Understanding (MOU) to
cattle to do a bunch of work and Don MacNeil from the In response, the AFL has help employers who need to
ship them back home again. Communications, Energy and hired a lawyer to act as TFW hire temporary foreign workers
They [the oil companies] have Paperworkers Union is equally advocate, taking on cases for to fill labour shortages on large
found that if you increase supply critical of the government-run the workers to help them get
by bringing in a pool of workers program. their rights. continued on page 42 »
6 Maps The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Oil Flows South, Impacts Flow North
The reach of the world’s largest industrial project
by Dru Oja Jay bitumen is trucked away to be waters, and that the deposits
based on cartography and processed. The remaining 80 are within Nunavut’s territorial
files by Petr Cizek, for per cent of the deposits are too waters. Indian Affairs Minister
OilSandsTruth.org deep to be strip-mined. Instead, Jim Prentice has simply said
a technique known as “Steam- that he disagrees.
Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Assisted Gravity Drainage”
Multi-billion dollar pipelines (SAGD) is used. Steam is Oil Pipelines
are proposed which will pumped deep into the earth, In recent years, the tar
transport natural gas from the which softens the oil sufficiently sands have become a central
Arctic Ocean to Alberta. to bring it to the surface. While component of US “energy
That the gas from the pipelines it does not result in the total security.” Proposals for
is destined for the tar sands destruction of life in the area that increased pipeline capacity and
was once denied, but plans for is mined, the process has been new pipelines indicate where the
a “North-Central Corridor” termed “death by a thousand extracted oil will end up. Three
pipeline make the link clear. cuts” by some environmental refineries in Canada will receive
First proposed in the 1970s, groups. SAGD covers the land oil (via Chicago) from the tar
the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline with a patchwork of access sands, but the vast majority is
has been criticized for being a roads, clearings and industrial destined for US refineries, auto-
giant step in the industrializa- equipment. The process also mobiles and military equipment.
tion and colonization of the uses more water and natural gas Environmental organizations,
primarily-Indigenous north. than mining-based extraction, Indigenous groups and labour
The development needed to and leads to groundwater con- unions have opposed several of
keep gas flowing through the Steam-Assisted Gravity tamination, acidification of land the planned pipelines. Concerns
pipeline would affect a massive Drainage (SAGD) access roads and water, and vast increases in about the environmental impact
area of pristine wilderness. and drilling areas. Dru Oja Jay greenhouse gas emissions. of potential oil spills, unsettled
Maps projecting the impact of land claims, energy security,
the rapid expansion of northern shows that Canada is burning Heavy Oil and accountability for impacts
natural gas exploitation show through its own supply (over Just south of the main tar sands after the oil boom passes have
a dense web of access roads, half of which is sent south) at a region are several deposits of been cited.
drilling locations and pipelines rate that is unsustainable. “heavy oil”–oil that is closer in
covering a vast area (shown in form to bitumen than normal Diluent Pipelines
yellow on the map) around Deh Nuclear Plants crude oil, but still extracted via Because most of the bitumen
Cho, or the Mackenzie River. With rising prices and declining traditional means. Internal oil extracted from the tar sands
supply, natural gas may not be industry reports note that it is will not be refined in Canada,
Alaska Highway Pipeline able to fuel energy-intensive possible to extract far more oil and is too thick to flow through
The proposed 2,700 kilometre- tar sand extraction. So far, two if SAGD-like methods are used. pipelines effectively, it is
long Alaska Highway Pipeline nuclear power plants–Alberta’s However, one report notes, necessary to dilute it. For this
would link Alaska’s North Slope first–have been proposed in natural gas is necessary, and purpose, proposed pipelines will
natural gas deposits with the tar Whitecourt and Peace River. greenhouse gas emissions are bring in hundreds of thousands
sands. The project, estimated However, Parliament’s natural far higher when these tech- of barrels per day of light oil for
to cost as much as $30 billion, resources committee concluded niques are used. the purpose of transporting the
would cross several protected that 20 nuclear plants would bitumen out of the region.
areas and First Nations lands have to be built to meet Sverdrup Basin
covered by Treaty 8. expected production growth The Sverdrup Basin, says Rivers
until 2015. Rising uranium Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik, While energy flows from the gas
LNG Terminals prices have also led to several could contain as much as one fields in the Arctic to refineries
A total of 11 Liquid Natural new proposed uranium mines trillion dollars worth of natural in Texas, Chicago and Cali-
Gas terminals are planned in the north, including one near gas. Nunavut has been in a long fornia, tar sands excavation is
in Canada, on the west and Fort Chipewyan. fight with the federal govern- using and polluting water that
east coasts. Several US cities ment over rights to the Arctic flows north. Doctors in Fort
have already rejected similar Tar Sands region’s vast oil and gas deposits. Chipewyan, for example, have
proposals, which have tankers Of the estimated 175 billion In addition to 17.4 trillion cubic reported high rates of cancer and
carrying natural gas from barrels of oil hidden in Alberta’s feet of recoverable natural gas, other diseases, and fishermen
Russia, Saudi Arabia and other tar sands, about 30 per cent is the Basin is said to contain 334 have reported catching fish with
overseas sources. Local oppo- accessible via surface mining. million barrels of oil. Okalik boils and deformations. Experts
sition groups have cited the The surface of the earth, says that the federal govern- warn that if tailing ponds were
devastating effects of potential including trees, rivers and ment drew on Inuit use and to breach, the toxic effects could
spills or explosions. Critics dozens of metres of “overbur- occupancy studies to establish be felt in Great Slave Lake and
say that importing natural gas den” are removed before the sovereignty over the Arctic beyond.
Alaska North Slope
37.5 trillion cubic feet
Mackenzie River Delta
9.7 trillion cubic feet
Sverdrup Basin
17.1 trillion cubic feet
TUKTOYAKTUK
Alaska Highway Pipeline
4 billion cubic feet per day
Tar Sands:
INUVIK
Colville Hills
300 billion+ cubic feet
Extent of proposed
development
Proposed Nuclear Plant
Sahtú (Great Bear Lak
) Natural gas deposit
e
Proposed LNG terminal
De
PORT RADIUM
h
Ch
Proposed oil pipeline
o (M
Existing oil pipeline
ackenzi River)
Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Proposed diluent pipeline
1.8 billion cubic feet per day
WHITEHORSE
e
Cities and communities
Known tar sands deposits
YELLOWKNIFE Pipeline flow direction
FORT SIMPSON
River flow direction
Worke
rs f e
Lak
rom C Mackenzie Gas Project
h ina a
nd P ve impact area
hilip Sla
pin
es Great Heavy oil regions
»
FORT SMITH
North Central Corridor Labour migration
Capacity unknown
Based on maps by Petr Cizek for
Athabasca OilSandsTruth.org, Canadian
Peac
FORT CHIPEWYAN ke
La Arctic Resources Council,
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River Wikimedia, Total, and R. Vogel
FORT MACKAY
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from M
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8 What the tar sands need
WATER
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
an estimated 82 per cent came found in the tailing ponds are
from the Athabasca River. Of known to cause liver problems
that, extraction companies and brain hemorrhaging in
were only required to return 10 mammals, and deformities and
billion gallons to the river. death in birds.
Most of the water used It is difficult to estimate
ends up in toxic tailing ponds. the volume of toxins that make
As of 2006, tailing ponds their way into the Athabsca, but
covered 50-square kilometres downstream communities like
of former boreal forest. By Fort Chipewyan have reported
2010, according to the Oil Sands high occurences of rare cancers,
Tailings Research Facility, the lupus, multiple sclerosis and
industry will have generated 8 other diseases in recent years.
billion tons of waste sand and Local fishermen have reported
1 billion cubic metres of waste boils and deformities in fish.
water–enough to fill 400,000 One winter, an oil slick was
olympic-sized swimming pools. discovered under the ice.
Today, the largest human-made Syncrude later admitted that
dam by volume of materials is there had been a spill about 200
A Suncor tailing pond (right), a few hundred metres from the the Syncrude tailing pond, a few kilometres upstream.
Athabasca River (left). David Dodge, The Pembina Institute kilometres from the Athabasca The Athabasca also feeds
river. Great Slave Lake, Deh Cho
F
or each barrel of oil occuring tar sand. The bitumen The waste sand and water (the Mackenzie River) and vast
produced from the is later “upgraded” into synthetic contain naphtha and paraffin, northern watersheds. Water
tar sands, between crude oil. which are used in the extraction from the Athabasca flows all the
two and 4.5 barrels of In 2007, the government of process, and oil leftovers like way to the Arctic Ocean, and
water is needed. The water is Alberta approved withdrawal of benzene, naphthenic acid and plays an essential role in the
used in the process of extract- 119.5 billion gallons of water for polyaromatic hydrocarbon, lives of Indigenous communities
ing bitumen from the naturally tar sands extraction, of which among others. Chemicals and vast areas of Boreal forest.
ENERGY greenhouse gas emissions and
transition to sustainable fuel
sources. According to estimates
from the Pembina Institute, the
tar sands will account for 25
per cent of Canada’s emissions
by 2020, if Kyoto targets are
reached.
The vast amounts of natural
gas needed to extract millions of
barrels of oil per day are leading
to an anticipated shortage of
connect Alaska’s north slope,
home to an estimated 35 trillion
cubic feet of natural gas, with
the Mackenzie valley route.
In part to make up for the
natural gas supply taken up by
the tar sands, Liquid Natural Gas
terminals have been proposed
in multiple locations on the
west coast, east coast and along
the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The
terminals would receive natural
supply. As a result, several gas from tankers incoming from
energy megaprojects have been the Middle East, Russia and
proposed. other overseas sources.
Perhaps the most Natural gas supply is still
contentious of the proposals not enough to keep up with
is the $7 billion Mackenzie anticipated growth, leading
Gas Project, a 1,220 kilometre industry to explore options such
A Syncrude upgrader. Dru Oja Jay pipeline that runs along the as nuclear power. Alberta’s first
Mackenzie River Valley, from nuclear power plant has been
B
etween digging up the about one sixth of the energy the Arctic Ocean to Alberta’s proposed in the town of Peace
tar sand, separating provided by a barrel of oil is northern border. The project River, though it has faced some
out the bitumen, expended to extract one barrel would connect the estimated 82 local opposition.
and subsequently of oil from tar sand. trillion cubic feet of natural gas Much to the dismay of
upgrading it to synthetic Opponents of the tar sands in the Mackenzie River delta environmentalists, there is
heavy crude oil, the extraction say that burning a relatively clean with the tar sands extraction also discussion of building new
process requires vast amounts fuel like natural gas to produce plants to the south. coal-burning power plants into
of energy. Because the tar sand oil undermines any efforts A second project, the future tar sands upgrading
and bitumen must be heated, to reduce climate-changing Alaska Gas Pipeline, would facilities.
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 9
LABOUR
disputed. Another estimate says leaves the door open to abuse.
that 20,000 new positions will In one case, 12 men brought
be created in the tar sands over in by a trucking company were
the next three years. charged $500 per month to live
The signs of a labour in a three-bedroom bungalow.
shortage are already apparent The temporary foreign
in Alberta. Workers from New- workers program has sparked a
foundland and the Maritimes debate over the development of
are offered flights to and from the tar sands.
Fort McMurray for the duration “Most skilled workers
of their work term. Grocery would prefer to have twenty
stores and fast food joints offer years of stable employment
hourly wages in the double rather than seven or eight
digits, and sometimes offer years of frantic development,”
signing bonuses. writes Gil McGowan of the
Increasingly, workers Alberta Federation of Labour.
are brought in from countries If the pace of development was
like China and the Philip- slowed, he writes, the need for
pines. In 2006, Immigration temporary foreign workers
Canada issued 15,172 new would diminish.
A work camp near Fort McMurray. Dru Oja Jay “temporary work permits” in Currently, development
Alberta, bringing the number of is heading in the opposite
T
he Conference Board current rate of growth continu- temporary workers to 22,392. direction, with plans to increase
of Canada predicted ing unimpeded), but it seems Temporary workers differ production fivefold in the next
in 2006 that Alberta to be an accurate reflection of from immigrants in that they twenty years. Labour regula-
would face a shortage the concern Alberta’s industrial have no access to immigration tions are being “streamlined,”
of 332,000 workers by 2025. sector has shown recently. services, and can be sent home. and plans are in place to further
The figure has been dismissed as That tar sands require a According to some reports, increase the number of foreign
exaggerated (it is based on the massive influx of labour is not the workers’ temporary status workers.
LAND
rerouted. Giant trucks then sustaining state.” According to
remove soil, clay and sand to Syncrude’s web site, this means
uncover the prized tar sands. “productive capability at least
The sands are then removed and equal to its condition before
taken to plants to be processed. operations began.” Syncrude
In the end, an average of four envisions “a mosaic landscape
tonnes of earth must be removed dominated by productive
to render one barrel of oil. forests, wetland areas alive with
In addition to tailing ponds waterfowl and grasslands sup-
(see “Water”), vast amounts porting grazing animals.”
of waste sand are generated. So far, Suncor says it
These sands, still containing has reclaimed 858 hectares,
traces of bitumen and other accounting for less than nine
chemicals, are inhospitable to per cent of the land it has mined
life. Near Syncrude’s extraction since 1967. Syncrude has mined
plant, for example, a vast desert 18,653 hectares, a little under
stretches over the horizon. The a fifth of which it says it has
expanse shows no signs of life, reclaimed.
and carries the overpowering None of the land, however,
smell of asphalt. has been officially certified
Waste sand creates a moonscape near Syncrude. Dru Oja Jay
The tar sands cover an as reclaimed by the govern-
O
pen pit mining of “overburden” that is removed estimated 141,000-square kilo- ment. Both corporations have
tar sands, according is up to 75 metres (about 25 metres, of which approximately billboard advertisements in
to the Government stories) deep, and the underlying 3,400-square kilometres will Fort McMurray proclaiming
of Alberta, involves tar sands are typically between be strip-mined if currently- the success of their reclama-
“clearing trees and brush from 40 and 60 metres deep. approved projects go forward. tion programs. In the end, it is
a site and removing the over- After trees and brush are Government regulations not clear that land will be fully
burden–the topsoil, muskeg, clearcut and either burned or require the strip-mined land to reclaimed, and government
sand, clay and gravel–that sits sent to sawmills, the area is be “reclaimed,” and returned agencies have been criticized as
atop the oil sands deposit.” The drained, and local rivers are to a “stable, biologically self- lax in enforcing regulations.
10 Visuals The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
A vast plain of waste sand near Syncrude, about 40 kilometres outside of Fort McMurray. Dru Oja Jay
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Environment 11
Passing Out in Upgrader Alley
“Industrial Heartland” developments rival those of the Athabasca tar sands
Shell’s upgrader in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. Matthew Dance (Creative Commons 2.0)
by Lori Theresa Waller Welcome to Alberta’s The Radkes live and farm on upgrader in 2003, accidents
Industrial Heartland, a 78,550- land that was bought from have occurred at the rate of
When the sirens go off acre area about a half-hour Kathy’s in-laws in the 1980s by about four or five a year, says
at Shell’s upgrader near Fort drive northeast of Edmonton. Atco Gas, which stores natural Kathy. Last September, there
Saskatchewan, Alberta, nearby This industrial sacrifice zone, gas underneath the property in were two gas leaks in the space
resident Kathy Radke knows home to dozens of refineries, salt mines. When Kathy and her of one week. Nearby residents
there has been another accident. petrochemical plants and other husband moved in, leasing their were instructed to stay in their
As plumes of toxic vapour are industrial facilities, is where home from Atco, they were told homes for several hours. Some
picked up and scattered by the much of the bitumen pulled they would be able to live and later reported sore throats and
wind, she is expected to call an from Alberta’s tar sands opera- farm there safely for decades. headaches that lasted for days.
emergency hotline set up for the tions will be upgraded. Some is With the rapid growth of Shell’s neighbours are
handful of families living in the already pumped here, through industry in the area, the Radkes exposed to routine emissions of
immediate vicinity. The hotline a 493-km pipeline, to the Shell were soon surrounded by the sulphur dioxide and other toxic
is meant to tell residents the upgrader. With two more clanking of machinery, heavy gases, which temporarily spike
severity of the accident, and upgraders under construction, truck traffic and air pollution. above regulated maximum
whether to “shelter in place” or and another 10 in various stages Their house is two kilometres levels on a regular basis. Over
to evacuate the area. of proposal or development, east–and downwind–of Shell’s the past two years, Kathy’s
“Half the time, the info the area is popularly known as massive Scotford operation, family has lost 45 dairy cows
hasn’t even been updated “Upgrader Alley.” which boasts the existing out of a herd of 140 and she
when we call,” says Radke. A few decades ago, it upgrader, a second under suspects that the air pollution
She wonders why Shell doesn’t was mostly farmland. Several construction and a refinery. To has something to do with it.
supply the nearby residents families still live scattered on the north, BA Energy is also The region’s flurry of
with air packs that they can put patches of land between the building a new upgrader. continued on page 43 »
on as soon as the alarms go off. massive industrial facilities. Since Shell built its first
12 Original Peoples The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Oil Versus Water
Toxic water poses threat to Alberta’s Indigenous communities
by Kim Petersen
Alberta is replete with
precious oil. Recovery of that
oil from the tar sands, however,
is putting another precious
resource at risk: water. Dene
and Cree First Nations people
live close to and in the midst of
the largest tar sand deposit in
the Athabasca River region and
oil extraction is harming their
water supply.
The recoverable oil reserves
in Alberta’s tar sands are so
bountiful that they vie with
oil reserves in Saudi Arabia
and Venezuela for top status.
Compared to Saudi Arabia,
however, the oil extraction
process is very expensive. What
is extracted is bitumen, a form
of crude oil, mixed with clay and
silica, which must be refined to
produce a barrel of oil. Current
high oil prices make the extrac-
tion and refinement of bitumen
very profitable.
Scientists at the University
of Toronto and the University
of Alberta have warned that
the excessive water demand
will result in the disappear-
ance of the Athabasca River,
having a devastating impact
on the largest boreal delta in
the world–a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
First Nations communities
who live along and depend on
the Athabasca River are also
at possible risk from tar sands Children play by the shore of Lake Athabasca in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta during a canoe race.
operations. There have been Residents of Fort Chipewyan have seen rising rates of rare cancers since tar sands mining began
reports of increased illness upstream along the Athabasca River. Dru Oja Jay
and signs of toxic chemicals
affecting wildlife. the Athabasca River is not being of the Mikisew Cree First rights–to hunt, fish, trap and so
Some elders with Athabasca protected. “The corporations Nation, also in Fort Chipewyan, on.”
Chipewyan First Nation have to deal with us. We’ve explained: The government is not
(ACFN) are concerned with got environmental agreements “There’s been a de facto doing that.
the environmental monitoring with every one of them,” Marcel extinguishment of our treaty “Historically,” said Poitras,
of the Cumulative Environ- said. rights because the govern- “they attempted to colonize us
mental Management Associa- “If you’re not able to honour ment continues to take up land through policies and legisla-
tion (CEMA), an NGO that is the treaty that we signed,” said without any consideration or tion that are paternal, colonial,
supposed to represent “all levels Marcel, “we might as well do consultation with the First imperial and they continue that
of government,” First Nations away with that treaty and you Nations.” The treaty, Poitras attitude...[the government is]
and other stakeholders. can get your scrap of paper told the Dominion, “obligates simply not dealing with us as
ACFN elder Pat Marcel back and we can get our country the government to consult with priority rights holders of these
said that CEMA was “dead” in back.” us any time there is a potential
the eyes of the elders because George Poitras, a member or adverse impact on our treaty continued on page 31 »
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Opinion 13
We Speak for Ourselves
Indigenous peoples challenge the fossil fuel regime in Alberta
by Clayton Thomas-Muller Most Canadian and the land, as descendants of the the Canadian Indigenous Tar
American campaigns against tar original inhabitants of Canada, Sands Campaign (CITSC).
Over the span of 38 years, sands development have been we are not merely “concerned This campaign aims to develop
Northern Alberta has changed initiated by non-Indigenous citizens.” Our Aboriginal title mechanisms for Dene, Cree
from a pristine environment groups or environmental non- and treaty rights in Canada and Metis grassroots peoples to
rich in cultural and biological governmental organizations legally supercede the rights of have meaningful participation
diversity to a landscape resem- (eNGOs). Although these tar the province of Alberta and cor- in decision-making, to make
bling a war zone marked sands lie within the traditional porations and their operation in informed decisions, to speak
with 200-foot-deep pits and territories of First Nations and the region. for themselves on energy and
thousands of acres of destroyed Metis peoples, these campaigns Dene, Cree and Metis com- climate issues and to link front-
boreal forests. Lakes and rivers lack Indigenous involvement. munities and their leadership line climate and energy impacts
have been contaminated and In the words of many elders must look beyond a dependence to policy development.
groundwater systems drained. and land-based community on a fossil-fuel regime and be The CITSC campaign will
The impact of the tar sands members living in the tar sands visionaries and doers, support- work towards the establish-
industry is what I am talking area, concerns for jobs, housing, ing the development of clean ment of a sustainable energy
about. This industry has also income and economic develop- and economic platform for First
resulted in the disruption to ment have taken priority over Nations and Metis. The platform
the Dene First Nations and the traditional Indigenous
“The river used to be will include both a moratorium
their treaty rights, including the values of respecting the sacred- on “new” fossil fuel develop-
cultural disruption to the Cree ness of Mother Earth and pro-
blue. Now it’s brown. ment, large-scale hydropower
and Metis communities. tection of the environment. and nuclear energy and, as an
The areas of concern fall “The river used to be blue.
Nobody can fish or alternative to the tar sands, a
under Aboriginal Treaties 8 and Now it’s brown. Nobody can fish call to prioritize the develop-
11. These are treaties that ensure or drink from it. The air is bad. drink from it.” ment of clean, renewable energy
lands of First Nations not be This has all happened so fast,” on First Nations and Metis land
taken away from First Nations says Elsie Fabian, 63, an elder production and clean renewable in Alberta. The campaign will
by massive uncontrolled devel- in a First Nation community energy within their lands. There build a broad-based regional
opment that threatens their along the Athabasca River. needs to be a clear strategy to coalition of First Nations
culture and traditional way of Some First Nations leader- motivate First Nations leader- and Metis grassroots–made
life. ship, such as the Dehcho Dene ship and their grassroots com- of provincial-, regional- and
The de-watering of rivers First Nations in the Northwest munities to get active in energy community-level First Nations
and streams to support the Territories and the Mikisew Cree and climate change policy, at the and Metis organizations and
tar sands operations, and the and Athabasca Chipewyan First provincial, federal and interna- Band Council leadership–which
destruction of the boreal forest, Nations in Fort Chipewyan have tional levels. Capacity develop- will advocate for, and realize,
have threatened the cultural called on Canada and Alberta ment must be strengthened. sustainable energy and climate
survival of the First Nations to support a moratorium on There is a need for informed policies. The IEN recognizes,
peoples. further tar sands development. Aboriginal and Indigenous supports and promotes envi-
An anticipated $25-billion Organizations opposing the organizations to take the lead ronmentally sound lifestyles,
expansion of the Athabasca expansion of tar sands develop- in organizing strategy, advocacy economic livelihoods and
oil sands in Northern Alberta ment must recognize the First and training for First Nations. healthy, sustainable communi-
is underway. First Nations Nations who share that opposi- Our Dene, other First Nations ties. As Indigenous peoples, we
leadership of the Athabasca tion. As a member of the Indig- communities and Indigenous have a sacred responsibility to
Tribal Council (ATC) have been enous Environmental Network support organizations must protect our human rights and
partnering with the world’s and the Chair of the IEN Native be more visible locally and in to practice our cultural and
largest corporations involved in Energy and Climate Campaign, national campaigns. spiritual beliefs.
tar sands development. Some we are identifying, and will be Information is power. This
of these giant developers are working with, Dene, Cree and is the reason that there must Clayton Thomas-Muller, of the
Mobil Oil, Shell, Gulf, Syncrude Metis community members who be a major focus on “building Mathais Colomb Cree Nation
Canada, Petro-Canada and are concerned about the Alberta the base” with members of the (Pukatawagan) in Northern
Suncor Energy. However, tar sands expansion, as well as First Nations and the Metis Manitoba, is an activist for
many First Nations and Metis the broader fossil-fuel regime in settlements, on starting with Indigenous rights and envi-
grassroots people have not Canada. the grassroots. The Indigenous ronmental justice. He has
been part of these negotiations The rationale behind this Environmental Network (www. worked with grassroots Indig-
and are silently opposed to tar approach is that the govern- ienearth.org), an Indigenous- enous communities to defend
sands expansion. These people ment of Canada and the courts run environmental justice their Inherit, Treaty and
feel disenfranchised by a lack of recognize treaties between the non-profit organization based environmental rights against
knowledge and skills necessary Crown and Aboriginal peoples. in the States, along with our unsustainable energy develop-
for organizing policy for energy- As Aboriginal peoples with long- Canadian allies, is working on ment and transnational energy
and climate-related issues. standing use and occupation of this level. IEN will be launching corporations.
14 Opinion The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Gateway to Solidarity?
Pipelines and Indigenous communities in northern B.C.
by Carla Lewis
Two years ago, pipelines
were the furthest concern
from anyone’s mind. But
today, most Indigenous com-
munities in British Columbia
have heard of the proposed
pipelines and company names
like “Enbridge” and, to a lesser
extent, “Pembina” are tossed
around like Kleenex.
The Enbridge Gateway
Project was the first of the
proposed pipelines to capture The coast near Kitimat will soon be a route for tankers carrying oil, diluents and liquid natural gas if the
the attention of Indigenous Gateway pipeline is constructed. Jessica Johnson/Creative Commons 2.0
Peoples in British Columbia,
as this proposed project would (CSTC) filed a provincial court and peoples. away from us, slowly bled away
directly impact unceded tra- challenge against the Ministry It’s not that First Nations by a thousand paper cuts. Our
ditional territories. If carried of Environment’s decision to are against all development, lands are contaminated and we
forward, the pipeline would establish a joint review panel but non-renewable resource die from cancer, asthma and
transport oil from Alberta’s regarding Enbridge’s pipeline proposals that meet minimum other chronic diseases that are
tar sands to the coast, where it application. The CSTC made environmental standards for increasingly linked to industrial
would be loaded onto tankers for multiple requests to be involved maximum economic gain are environmental hazards by sci-
transport to the US and China. in the review process and were often the only options put on entific evidence. Perhaps even
A second, parallel pipeline essentially ignored. Since then, the table. Development that a greater tragedy is occurring
would transport diluent, which a First Nations Review Panel offers sustainable solutions as our youth turn knives to their
is needed to enable heavy crude has been formed consisting doesn’t seem to fit into the dis- wrists and guns to their heads,
oil to flow from the tar sands of the CSTC, two other tribal cussion, despite the oft-stated as the loss of land and of cultural
to overseas refineries, from councils and seven other First commitment to “sustainable continuity lead to a devastating
tankers originating in Russia Nations across the province development.” loss of hope.
to Alberta. Enbridge is just who would be directly impacted Throughout this battle, the So where are we to go from
one company planning to take by the proposed pipeline and oil role of mainstream media has here? Sit idly by as pipelines cut
their lines across the province; tankers off the coast of British been to portray First Nations new borders and deep wounds
others plan to follow and each Columbia. as “trouble-makers” who in the earth, disturb hundreds
will require separate right of The First Nations Review are trying to halt a booming of watersheds and leave us the
ways, albeit on similar paths of Panel proposes to conduct a economy and, as a result, are possibility of a spill? Aboriginal
economic gain. review that takes into consid- creating economic uncertainty. rights and title are possibly the
Communities already eration First Nations’ interests This relationship continues to brightest hope that Canadians
dealing with a chronic lack of over and above the position be dysfunctional at best. have to combat pipeline devel-
funding, time and personnel of other stakeholders, and is In reality, blockades are opments in B.C. And of course,
are now being forced to use based on the necessity of “prior, used as a last resort when this is not just of concern to
scarce resources–rerouted from informed consent” from First the laws and policies of the First Peoples; this is a dire
education, social services and Nations people when exploiting Canadian state fail to take into situation for all Canadians and
other community portfolios–to their unceded territory. consideration constitutionally a relationship of solidarity must
try to stay ahead of the wave of The wanton destruction of protected Aboriginal rights and be undertaken between Indige-
large-scale industrial develop- territories without Indigenous title. In fact, Indigenous people nous peoples and the rest of the
ment and pressures resulting input is no longer the way to do the world over face similar situ- population. We must all cast a
from the insatiable advances of business. The present review ations in the face of government glance forward and look beyond
industry. process fails to give weight to and industry. One poignant the boom to the eventual bust
For the past two years, our Indigenous perspectives, per- difference for Indigenous to decide if oil and pipelines
communities and respective spectives that often will not fit people in Canada is that we are the best option for the next
tribal councils have struggled into a neat formula. The prospect aren’t violently evicted, killed seven generations. Or is a more
to keep up with various assess- of jobs and “economic gain” and kidnapped like in other suitable form of sustainable
ments, studies and communi- should not trump the health countries. Or are we? development attainable?
cations. We eventually found of a river that has been the life We continue to be dis-
ourselves in the courts. water of people for millennia, located from our traditional Carla Lewis,
In October of last year, the according to the worldview held territories and respective lands Wet’suwet’en First Nation
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council by many Indigenous nations as they are slowly legislated
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Arts 15
Sublime Tar Sands?
Edward Burtynsky’s photography and Canada’s extractive industries
by Sylvia Nickerson overwhelming power of Nature
over Man, represented by a
For over 20 years, Canadian vast and pristine vista of land.
artist Edward Burtynsky has It reminded the viewer that
photographed some of the Nature can be simultaneously
world’s largest sites of resource threatening and beautiful.
extraction and processing. He Burtynsky has imagined the
has documented uranium and twentieth-century version of
nickel mines, stone quarries, the sublime as a landscape
oil fields, oil refineries, “urban transformed through human
mines,” including massive power into something equally
tire piles and compacted beautiful and frightening. His
metal waste, giant factories, photographs of mines and
the recycling of single-hulled quarries shock the viewer with
oil tankers and the construc- their otherworldly appearance,
tion of the Three Gorges Dam especially once one realizes
in China–the world’s largest that they are portraits of a land
hydro-electric project. As part made unrecognizable through
of this quest, Burtynsky has also intensive industrial activity.
documented the oil industry in By eliminating people
Canada, including the Albertan from the Canadian landscape,
tar sands. However, there is a Burtynsky shares something
noticeable difference between else with his nineteenth-century
his work in Canada and his work peers. When British painters
overseas. When Burtynsky takes came to Canada, literally
his camera to Bangladesh or removing Canada’s aboriginal
China, he reveals human labour people from the picture served
as the driving force behind the the British agenda of coloniza-
landscapes of these industrial tion. In his photographs of
mega-projects. Human beings other countries, Burtynsky has
are what define these land- put people back into colonized
scapes. In his photographs of or capitalist landscapes, but
the Albertan tar sands, however, by keeping them out of images
the human figure is absent. Why of Canada, the agenda he is
did Burtynsky choose to remove serving has come into question.
people from his portraits of In his Canadian photographs,
Canadian industry? the subject of the immense
The history of landscape reorganization of land is the
painting and photography may landscape, not the people. The
help explain his choices. If images do nothing to challenge
people appeared at all in tradi- the prevailing Canadian
tional landscape images, they ignorance about the enormous
served to show the overwhelm- environmental and social con-
ing vastness of the subject. In sequences that will be the legacy
Burtynsky’s pictures of mines, of the Alberta tar sands project
mine tailings, quarries and for generations to come.
urban mines from the 1980s and For most of his career,
1990s, he follows this tradition. Burtynsky has studiously
People, or their residue in the avoided politicizing his work
form of tire tracks, parked and he has come under attack
cars, ladders, or abandoned for his relentless pursuit to
backhoes, are used to reveal the aestheticize his subject and
vast scale of these extraction render it ambiguous. However,
sites. this ambiguity is what draws
Burtynsky has said that viewers in again and again. It is
he aspires to create sublime both pleasurable and disturbing
landscapes for our time. The to see these transformed land-
sublime landscape in the nine- Works by Edward Burtynsky: Oil Fields No. 23 (Cold Lake), Oil
teenth century symbolized the continued on page 35 » Fields No. 24, Oil Fields No. 25 (Fort McMurray)
16 Labour The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Hard Times Sold in Vending Machines
Worker migration from Atlantic Canada to the tar sands
by Stuart Neatby
For Atlantic Canadians,
the story of worker migration
couldn't be more familiar.
Leaving the region for the
"boom town" of the day has
been a rite of passage since the
1970s. The successive waves
of worker migration from east
to west have been many–the
last Alberta energy boom in
the seventies, the construction
boom in Toronto in the '70s
and '80s, the collapse of the
cod fishery in Newfoundland,
followed by the collapse of coal
mining in Cape Breton–and
have always resulted in a par-
ticular pull for young workers
away from the region. This
regional story was immortalized
by Donald Shebib's classic 1970
film "Goin' Down the Road," An Acadian flag adorns a Fort McMurray home. Dru Oja Jay
which follows two men who
leave Cape Breton in search of Reg Anstey, president of the foundland alone. fishery in the early 1990s, is
a better life in Toronto, only Newfoundland Federation of Anstey sees many advan- now in a state of population
to end up bouncing from one Labour, "is that in the other tages for Newfoundland from decline, with more people dying
poorly paid job to another. outmigrations of significance, the oil boom. The province, than are being born. Regional
The shock of rural life colliding like when the fisheries shut like other regions of Atlantic papers frequently carry stories
with urban poverty was aptly down, a lot of people took pretty Canada, is in the relatively about labour shortages for
captured in Bruce Cockburn's lousy jobs." early stages of developing its local trucking companies and
song of the same name, which According to Anstey, unlike own oil and gas sector. Until fish plants. This shortage, in a
he wrote for the film: "I came during other times of economic the Lower Churchill Valley startling parallel to Alberta's
to the city with the sun in my collapse in Newfoundland, hydroelectric project and the own industry "solution" to its
eyes/ My mouth full of laughter when workers took jobs in Hebron offshore oil project are own tar sands-fueled labour
and dreams/ But all that I fish or meat-packing plants in able to deliver high-paying jobs shortage, is prompting increas-
found was concrete and dust/ Atlantic Canada and Ontario, for Newfoundland's workforce, ing calls from east coast business
And hard times sold in vending Newfoundland labour is now a Anstey sees the migration of leaders to fill these positions by
machines." much sought-after commodity. workers, whose return flights importing Temporary Foreign
Today, it is difficult to "This is the first time where are likely booked in advance by Workers.
exaggerate the impact that almost everyone who's working their employers, as a method of However, for Atlantic
worker migration to the Alberta out there, their way up is paid training a generation of workers Canadian workers travelling to
Tar Sands has had for Atlantic and their way back is paid by for these projects. Fort McMurray, the effects of
Canada. Although credible the company," says Anstey. However, the pull of this migration may not be fully
estimates for numbers of As of 2006, the shortage of workers from the region is known for years to come.
workers who have been moving workers across the province was still somewhat alarming. The Steve Gaul, a resident of
west are difficult to gauge, few estimated by the Alberta gov- populations of Newfoundland Halifax, worked various stints
doubt that they are in the tens ernment to be around 100,000 and Labrador and Nova Scotia in the oil fields for a total of
of thousands. One would be workers. Canadian National are shrinking, according to three years, most recently as a
hard pressed to find anyone in Resources Limited has begun Statistics Canada, while New roughneck on a rigging crew.
the region who does not know offering three flights a week Brunswick and Prince Edward When asked about conditions
someone working out west. from Alberta to Newfoundland, Island registered the lowest on the job, Gaul says he discov-
But the move by thousands while Air Canada has added population growth rate of all ered that exposure to harmful
of Atlantic Canadians to Fort a 'Fort McMurray Express.' provinces in Canada between chemical agents was frequent.
McMurray in recent years The National Post reported in 2006 and 2007. Newfoundland "There's lots of Benzene
differs from past worker migra- May that almost a third of the in particular, with an economy and substances that you're
tions. residents of Fort McMurray that has not yet recovered from
"The key difference," says were believed to be from New- the collapse of the commercial continued on page 36 »
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Accounts 17
Working Full-Time
The work camps of Fort McMurray
by Lindsay Bird unnatural way of living. Work
is the focus of existence. As the
Two mechanics from “hotel-style” camps emphasize,
site picked me up at the Fort life is something that happens
McMurray Greyhound station when you’re away from camp.
at 2pm. I had spent the uncom- What exists in camp, then,
fortable six-hour bus ride from is a society defined by work
Edmonton beside a large, and routine, out of touch with
sweating man from Bathurst, larger civilization. As one camp
New Brunswick, who worked resident of two years says,
at the same site to which I “Camp life is hard to describe to
was travelling. When this con- anybody who hasn’t been there.
nection was discovered, he Even my family doesn’t get it.”
excitedly phoned his sons, also The drag of the daily
on-site, to tell them ‘a girl was Institutionalized nomadicism: camp living quarters. Dru Oja Jay routine, enforced always by
coming.’ My introduction to the rules, is indeed hard to convey
alternate society of work camps to emulate small towns. $180 and is entirely picked up to outsiders. In search of a small
had begun. Rather, they reinforce a sense by the client or contractor. Oil break in mid-December, my
Of Wood Buffalo Region’s of estrangement from the company logic follows that by friend Dave bought a toboggan
population of 80,000, over immediate surroundings; rules creating too plush an atmo- and brought it to go sledding
10,000 live in work camps flung about what personal items are sphere within camps would lead on the hill behind the camp. We
far and wide throughout the allowed are many and domestic to increased absenteeism and, had talked about the possibility
bush. Here, being female is akin comforts are few. Meal times at the very worst, a home away of sledding for weeks before-
to having a giant pair of antlers are set, quiet hours are enforced from home. hand and the potential for an
on your head and wearing neon and any unusual activities are This institutionalized activity other than watching
clothing adorned with flashing, investigated by the security nomadicism has contributed TV or getting drunk had us all
beeping lights -- all the time. In guards. Most workers are on a to the careless atmosphere excited. Three of us bundled up
my camp, perhaps 30 or 40 of rotational schedule, working six most camp residents have against the -30 degree weather
the 1400 people were women. weeks at a time, before being towards Fort McMurray. It is one night and took the sled out --
The first time I attended meal flown--at company expense--to not a pretty town and its air only to be stopped by a security
hall, I made the mistake of their home territory for two. of neglect is palpable: as the guard after our first run down.
wearing a mid-length skirt and, Due to intense overcrowding, saying goes, everyone works “I don’t think there is a specific
while trying to swallow incred- many camps have adopted in Fort McMurray, but nobody rule against this,” he said,
ibly inedible “food,” I overheard what is known as “hotel-style lives there. Many workers “but you better stop anyway.”
several conversations about service.” Employees check into avoid going to town altogether, Minutes later, we were back in
the possible colour of my a camp room for their shift and preferring to wait in line to use our rooms having a beer and the
underwear. leave with all their belongings the long-distance pay phones. piercing disappointment we all
Generally, work camps at the end, effectively forcing Town nightlife is fraught with felt could only be understood by
service the construction sector, them to live out of a suitcase. bar fights--especially between someone else worn down by the
with most contractors’ work- Company policy states that “this non-union and union members- monotony of camp.
forces living in trailers on or emphasizes that our workers -centred on how much money The sense of mental
close to the worksite--anywhere are on-site to work,” and not one can spend at the strip club isolation, compounded by
from 45 minutes to two hours to establish any type of home or casino. Outsiders would geographic remoteness, means
from Fort McMurray. The within the camp. be amazed to learn that it is it takes a certain hardiness of
trailers each hold between 30 This is exactly what possible to throw $300 worth personality to survive in camps.
and 50 men, plopped onto a makes camps successful in of toonies at a stripper over the For those who can, there is the
carved-out section of bush; these oil companies’ eyes. Workers course of an evening. The small benefit of saving large amounts
camps typically house 1,500 to living in camp are far more upside of this testosterone fest: of money within short spans of
2,500 people. Like weird small likely to have spotless atten- if you’re female, your drinks time. The friendships formed
towns, you see the same people dance records than those living will always, always be bought in camps are close-knit, as
over and over again, learning in town. There is not much for you. people depend on their friends
more about their habits than point in missing work when all These alive and alarm- to stay sane in such an absurd
their personalities. Being a girl, you can do with a day off is sit ingly abundant stereotypes environment. My camp life was
this is naturally amplified. “You in an 8-by-12-foot bunk. The contributed to my thoroughly positively shaped by the people
wore a red shirt yesterday” is productivity of camp workers mixed reaction to camp. On the I met there and they are the
both a brilliant observation and is therefore worth the expense one hand, the camp functions reason I look back at my time
a good pickup line, in camp of keeping them in camps, as a refuge from these harsh there somewhat fondly -- that
terms. where the bill for a single day’s elements of town life; but on the is, until I remember the meal
The camps are not trying lodging can vary from $120 to other, it subjects one to a totally hall.
18 Original Peoples The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
The Richest First Nation in Canada
Ecological and political life in Fort MacKay
by Macdonald Stainsby they brought many changes,
including serious health
The primarily Indigenous, problems, to the community.
mostly Cree (also ‘Chipewyan “People only died of old
Dene’) community of Fort Mac- age in our days...very seldom–
Kay–just north of the interna- maybe the odd now and then,
tionally famous tar sand “boom” but other than that, few deaths,
city of Fort McMurray–is said very few. But now? [Deaths]
to be the “richest First Nation in right and left, young people 37,
Canada.” The alleged wealth is 34, 43...in their forties, early
largely due to the fact that the fifties. People are dying here.”
community is surrounded by, “It’s got something to do
and on top of, tar sand. with these plants, I’m sure of it
Home to about 500 myself because I’ve been here
residents, Fort MacKay is the my whole life–in our day that’s
only official community north not the way it was.”
of Fort McMurray on highway After the plants began to
63, and lies 40-odd kilometres operate, the water began to
down the Athabasca River. On make people concerned for their
a remote northern highway like health. Many locals who ran
this one, one would normally trap lines nearby lost their lines
see car traffic every few minutes. when the land was “scraped off,”
On this particular road, cars go in mining terms. Those whose
by every few seconds. When trap lines were not destroyed
shifts at tar sands processing describe the disappearance
plants change over–the plants of many of the animals they
operate around the clock–the depended upon for their food
traffic is bumper-to-bumper and their livelihood.
and slows way beneath posted Blueberries and Saskatoon
limits. Where two generations berries were once so abundant A community bulletin board in Fort MacKay features notices from
ago, there was nothing but that everyone had more than Suncor about increased flaring, and signs like this one. Dru Oja Jay
muskeg forest, there is now enough to flavour their favorite
sandy wasteland. Where there recipes. Now, locals report, they Indian Affairs has control over an “open secret” that the Alberta
were rivers, there are now nine- are not scarce–they are simply the funding of the Band.) While Energy and Utilities Board
storey-deep holes. Where there gone. many others oppose the mining, review process is not much of
were lakes with fish, there are Today, there is suspicion they are less apt to go on the a process. The board has yet to
now “tailing ponds” filled with about the collusion of the Fort record in a small community refuse a single application for
toxic waste left over from the MacKay administration with like Fort MacKay. tar sand mining.
extraction process–cannons Syncrude, Suncor and other Now, the Fort MacKay Today, the problems of
are fired to prevent birds from corporations, companies that First Nation wants to begin a Fort McMurray have extended
landing in them and dying. have been the driving force of new joint venture with Shell in to Fort MacKay. There are many
Syncrude’s largest such “pond” the drastic changes in living the tar sands themselves. This victims of random violence in
is surrounded by one of the conditions that have occurred means that Fort MacKay will the small community, violence
largest earthen-built dams on in Fort MacKay. likely find itself opposed by often tied to drug and alcohol
the planet. The facts of the drastic the two First Nations of Fort abuse. Downstream of the
“Every which direction changes visited upon Fort Chipewyan, which is down- massive plant for Suncor along
you look, [tar sands extraction MacKay by operations like stream from the tar sands. Fort the Athabasca River, there is
plants] all around us, they’re all Syncrude and Suncor are not Chipewyan has seen a drastic a collective sense of defeat to
around. And these two up above disputed. Few speak out as increase in rates of rare forms these “side-effects.” And when
us here, those are the worst defiantly as Harpe. Whether of cancer and other illnesses, you cannot see the plumes rising
ones. These two are the worst because of the perceived inevi- but has not seen the millions out of the stacks, you can smell
polluters... that’s Syncrude tability of tar sands mining or in investment and “community them in Fort MacKay’s living
and Suncor, they’re the worst the millions of dollars in partnerships.” rooms–the smell of burning tar
ones because they’re so close “partnerships” offered by oil Perhaps as a result, its all day, every day.
to us too, you know?” Celina companies, the local Indian Act representatives oppose the A trip out to the Suncor
Harpe told us. An elder in Fort government–the Fort MacKay expansion of the tar sands, plant by river can give one
MacKay, Harpe has lived here First Nation–is going along and may find themselves in a sense of the size of the
all her life. When the mining with mining. (Under the Indian conflict with Fort MacKay in the
operations began in the 1960s, Act, the federal Minister of approval process. However, it is continued on page 35 »
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Excerpt 19
From Extraction!: Comix Reportage, forthcoming from Cumulus Press in November 2007
20 Gender The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
For Many Women, Alberta’s Boom a Bust
Rising housing costs, lack of alternatives lead to precarious situations
by Maya Rolbin-Ghanie women than men. There are
not enough absolute spaces
Driven by the tar sands, for women, and there is little
Alberta’s white-hot economy stability in these places.”
continues to make headlines. The shelter situation in
But the gendered repercussions Fort McMurray is grimmer still.
of the province’s boom are often Currently, no shelters accept
neglected, understated, or alto- minors. A report released this
gether denied. month by the region’s Home-
Alberta’s tar sands opera- lessness Initiatives Steering
tions have made the province Committee found that some
an attractive point of relocation teenagers are resorting to pros-
for many in the last couple of titution in exchange for a bed or
decades. A large number of couch for the night.
jobs have been created, many Jan Reimer, Provincial Co-
paying six-figure salaries. Other ordinator of the Alberta Council
industries, most notably the of Women’s Shelters and a
service sectors, have had to former mayor of Edmonton,
compete with these salaries in says the need for spaces far
a struggle to retain workers. As outstrips supply. “Last year,
wages have been pushed higher we served 13,000 women and
in order to lure employees, children. On top of that, 25,000
rent has increased as landlords Women at a June 11 demonstration organized by the Disability could not be accommodated and
capitalize on the increases in Action Force on Housing in Edmonton. Grant Neufeld (Creative Commons) 15,000 simply could not find a
income. Those without the place to stay. Only four shelters
resources or skills to tap into boom is great if you’re a CEO “homeless.” in Alberta have all of their
Alberta’s renowned boom and in downtown Calgary,” says “If a woman is sleeping beds funded by the province.
to profit from it are the most Edmonton NDP MLA Ray with her landlord to maintain a The capacity really needs to be
likely to have to deal with its Martin. “Saskatoon is now roof over her head, then she is increased.”
negative consequences. experiencing a mini-boom too. homeless,” says Scott. “Other Part of the reason there
In the case of the tar sands, But this means that more and women will do it for money for are so many more women and
women have often been discour- more people are falling behind.” drugs, to medicate a trauma children in need of shelter
aged from pursuing the very The “successful” economy that they’ve suffered which has than there is shelter space is
resources and skills necessary has created an urgent lack of gone untreated–they are also that Alberta has no transitional
to capitalize on the booming affordable housing, transitional homeless. Others will hang housing program. As a result,
industry. housing, and shelter spaces, out in a bar, hoping for a bed there is often nowhere for them
This is due in part to many particularly for women. and a safe place–they are also to go from the shelter, except
female workers’ experiences Women tend to be more homeless.” back to the street. Establishing
with sexual harassment, gender susceptible to losing their homes The Women’s Emergency a good transitional housing
discrimination and unequal due to abuse or conflict with a Accommodation Centre program would help women
wages. Sixteen years ago, Mobil spouse or caretaker upon whom (WEAC) in Edmonton is the dealing with trauma or legal
Oil’s first female landman, they are financially dependent. most well known of the few issues, but more importantly,
Delorie Walsh, submitted a Because women are more likely women’s shelters in the city. it would buy time, which is
claim of gender discrimination, to have children to look after, It can accommodate just 75 what many need most. “A lot
a poisoned work environment and are less likely to feel safe on women per night, and there of women can’t find a place to
and unequal pay. She was finally the street or in shelters where are generally 25 to 30 women live, due to a lack of references,
compensated in October 2007. men are also present, many staying there for a longer or a bad history with landlords.
Those benefiting most return to abusive relationships term, which means fewer beds What they need is physical
from the oil and gas workforce when there is no alternative available for those seeking support in the community,”
are male. For example, current shelter available. emergency shelter. says Gillis.
male/female ratios are 79 to 21 This is one of the reasons Amy Gillis, an inner-city Affordable, quality child
per cent for geoscientists and men make up the more visible physician in Edmonton, says care is one indication of a com-
96 to 4 per cent for trades. segment of homeless popula- there are few other options for munity’s support of women.
The significant gendered tions, says author Susan Scott. women seeking shelter. “There’s Lack of child care can result
imbalance of access to jobs Earlier this year, Scott inter- the George Spadie Centre, but in women’s inability to access
means unequal access to viewed over 60 homeless you usually have to be intoxi- social services necessary to get
housing. Observers say this women across Canada about cated to go there. There’s the out of shelters. Alberta is the
has led to a steady decline in their lives. She is critical of the Hope Centre, but they have
quality of life for women. “The limited definition of the term far fewer spaces available for continued on page 32 »
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Accounts 21
What in Tar Nation?
Life among the tar sands
by Maya Rolbin-Ghanie “The barbecue was brand new,”
she says. “You can’t just cook
We leave Fort McMurray meat on a brand-new barbecue.
and hitch a ride to Fort MacKay, There are toxic chemicals all
a Native community 40kms over these things–you have to
north, where we stay for three get the factory off of it before
days. you use it to cook with.” She
Celina, the elder with shakes her head at the floor and
whom we stay, speaks of the places her hand on the kitchen
trap lines from which she table to steady herself. “I don’t
and her husband Edward trust other people’s cooking. I
once gleaned a life, and of the don’t trust it unless I’ve cooked
bushes teeming with berries it myself. I just don’t trust it at
that tickled this land before the all.” She continues to shake her
tar sands plants opened, and head, sadly. “A lot of people
stole their land, along with the don’t have a clue. They don’t
health of the fish and animals. know how to cook a burger
She lists the kinds of berries: right. The woman who cooked it
raspberries, high bush cranber- didn’t even know that you can’t
ries, Saskatoon berries. She lists just buy something from the
them off in circles, repeating Smoke and flaring at the Syncrude plant, seen from Fort MacKay. store and use it right away. She
Dru Oja Jay
the names, once, twice, three probably had no idea. Half the
times, drawing attention to Oil and water meet but refuse being emitted from a Syncrude time people have no idea they’re
the abundance that she has no to coalesce in harmony. Like plant. As a result, the plant was eating poison,” she says.
pictures to prove. She pauses Celina, the people of Fort closed down. We meet Billy in the only
after each name, breaking in MacKay who live upstream She shows us pictures, not restaurant in Fort Chip. He
remembrance to taste each one. from the plants get their of high-bush cranberries, but of works for Parks Canada as a
We talk about quality of drinking water from a source people she’s known, and some firefighter, away from home.
life. About how apples and other than the river. Celina she’s loved. She tells us about On days off, he has a few
tomatoes, rumour has it, aren’t doesn’t trust the water anyway her eldest son, who died six drinks. He drinks and has a lot
as robust, tasty or nutritious as and has met with oil plant rep- years ago. She speaks of how to say. He tells us of his job at
they were in our parents’ gen- resentatives and observed for good-looking and kind he was. a tar sands plant, how it lasted
eration and that our parents’ herself their own unwillingness The neigbouring town of Fort three months. “They clear cut
apples and tomatoes didn’t to drink tap water. As a result McMurray, where he died, seems these huge areas,” he says, “but
measure up to those of previous of one such meeting, Syncrude almost entirely populated by oil instead of giving it to the elders
generations either. Oranges and agreed to provide and pay for rig workers, or by those in close for firewood or something
celery; mangoes and carrots; all the bottled water that she association. The town has seen like that, they just bury it all
fish, moose; the vitamins of life. and her husband can drink. She massive growth in recent years: underground with their huge
I read an article about it that smiles when she tells us that more people, more trucks, more machines.” He raises his voice
recites percentages, that recaps they hate her big mouth. The drugs, violence and money. in anger. “They’ve taken fish
parentages. people living downstream from Before her son was stabbed from this river with sores and
Since the Alberta govern- the plants, most notably in the in the heart by somebody she puss all over them. They’ve even
ment implemented its Mineable isolated Native community of doesn’t know, Celina knew it found fish with two heads,” he
Oil Sands Strategy in 2005, its Fort Chipewyan (farther north had happened. says, eyes wide. “Indians are
priorities have been easier to and only accessible by plane), Our last morning in Fort supposed to live to 100,” he
justify and enforce: the area has draw water directly from the MacKay we wake up to find that smiles, “but I know sooner
been declared a “co-ordinated Athabasca and are the most Celina has not returned from or later, I’m going to catch
zone within which mining has affected. Five cases of a rare Bingo the night before. Just something.” He is well-built,
the highest priority; policy is in cancer of the bile duct, cholan- as we’re beginning to worry, athletic, and seems healthy to
place that specifically stipulates giocarcinoma, have occurred in she arrives. She has spent the me. “These plants know exactly
wildlife in the tar sands zone Fort Chip’s population of 1,200 night in the hospital with her what they’re doing,” he says.
will not be protected before or in the past five years. Normally, youngest son, Murray. “I think “They don’t care if they kill us
during mining,” according to only one in 100,000 people he ate a bad hamburger,” she all off. If we survive, it’s a bonus,
the Canadian Centre for Policy contract it. Years ago, Celina says. “Maybe food poisoning,” but if some of us die of cancer,
Alternatives. tells us, white, non-native she seems to hope. I find myself oh well.” I find myself wanting
Young people, old people people in the neigbouring town hoping as well. How serious him to become the community
and people in-between are of Fort McMurray complained can food poisoning be? White activist, the one who makes the
dying of cancer. The air here of difficulty breathing, and people who eat in fancy restau-
is laced by unrelenting stacks. of green-black, deadly smoke rants get it, so it can’t be fatal. continued on page 38 »
22 Labour The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Roughneck, Bruised Head
One woman’s tale of toughness and safety in Alberta’s gas fields
by Tim McSorley The challenges started
almost immediately, she says.
Chantal Desharnais is For the first two days she worked
no stranger to the outdoors with all the new employees
or manual labour. Still, the on the line crew–the regular
24-year-old Quebecker, who work for rookies in the field,
had previously worked in con- following the machines clearing
struction and spent a summer brush to lay the explosive line
living on the banks of a B.C. behind it. But on the third day
river picking fruit for income she was sent out as a trouble-
had reservations about going to shooter alongside a 15-year
Calgary to work in the natural company veteran known for
gas industry for the summer. taking few breaks and working
It was the moral dilemma of long hours. While line crew
working in an industry she has follow tracks already cleared by
ethical disagreements with, not machine, trouble-shooters clear
the physical labour, had her their own path, going from one
concerned, says the student trouble spot in a detonation
in international relations at line to another. By the end of
the Université du Québec à the day she was exhausted and
Montréal. As many before her, demoralised. Upon returning to
the lucrative work provided an the camp, two of the older col-
opportunity to make enough leagues asked how her day was.
money over the summer to “When I told them I was
cover her tuition fees and help out with Paddy, they burst out
with student loan debts. laughing, like it was some inside
She was prepared for the joke,” she says. None of the
physical rigour of the work, but other new employees were sent
she never expected the sexism out as trouble-shooters.
she would face–or the serious Despite the tough day,
injuries she would sustain. After Desharnais stuck with it and
one month on the job, Deshar- was eventually transferred
nais would need to be trans- to work with someone a little
ferred to an office job in Calgary more easy-going. Then, towards
after suffering a concussion, the end of the month, she was
receiving five stitches to the transferred back to line crew.
back of her head, and a severely While the work atmosphere was
spraining her shoulder. Culture of toughness: Alberta’s gas fields. ‘aorr’ (Flickr/Creative Commons)
still far from comfortable, she
Despite what seems to be felt the worst had passed, but
an ample need for workers in her eventual employer, their work by the beginning of July, after three more days on line
the Alberta oil and natural gas human resources and personnel flown out to the base-camp in crew, she was once again unex-
fields (the natural gas industry in manager claims the company Grand Cache, Alberta, where pectedly reassigned, this time
Canada alone employed 151,327 never refuses to hire women. the company, which specialises as a shooter’s helper.
people in 2006 and is growing), “We never refuse to in geological exploration, was According to Menchuk,
Desharnais found it difficult hire someone if they are checking the area for natural there was another reason for her
to get hired once she hitch- a woman–we’re an equal gas deposits. She was one of constant reassignment. “I didn’t
hiked her way out to Calgary. opportunity employer,” says only two women on the crew, want to tell Chantal this to her
Company after company refused Stephen Menchuk, who hired and says she felt it right away. face, but I’ve been told that she
to grant her an interview. Desharnais and is familiar with Beyond what she saw as a culture just couldn’t handle the work
While most companies were her case. “We have so many of “only the tough survive,” the out in the field. She isn’t very big
coy about the reasons why, positions to fill, sometimes we fact she is a woman seemed to and it’s tough work carrying 30
she says it was clear that they even hire 50, 60-year-old men. make it all that more thrilling pounds of equipment through
weren’t interested in hiring They don’t necessarily work out for others to see her fail. the field and up mountains. I
women. Eventually, however, in the field, but there is a lot “As people get off the bus, was told she just couldn’t keep
she started asking companies of work that needs to be done you can tell they’re judging how up. Transferring her to shooter’s
outright if they had a policy of at the base-camp that isn’t as long they’ll last. Once you’re helper was to give her a chance;
not hiring women. While she physically demanding.” there for a while, you start to she would just need to follow
says she sensed hesitation when Interviewed at the end hear the comments too. It’s
she first contacted Geokinetics, of June, Desharnais was at especially hard for women.” continued on page 37 »
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Agriculture 23
The Tar Sands and Canada's Food System
Are beans the only cure for natural gas?
by Dru Oja Jay homes–over six million house-
holds–are heated with natural
Tar sands opponents gas.
point out that burning natural Climate change–propelled
gas, a relatively clean fuel, to by industrial projects like the tar
extract oil will result in massive sands–is also slated to have an
increases in greenhouse gas adverse impact on agriculture.
emissions. Yet, some experts “Climatologists will tell you that
say the implications of using evaporation trumps rainfall,”
natural gas go far beyond global says Qualman. Small increases
warming. in temperature could mean
North American agricul- much drier growing conditions
ture is deeply dependent on on Canada’s prairies, even if
natural gas. Nitrogen fertilizer rainfall increases.
is chemically produced using a The decision to invest huge
process that–currently–cannot amounts of natural gas into
be conducted efficiently without the tar sands will have ripple
large amounts of natural gas. effects through the Canadian
This fertilizer, in turn, is an food system, says Qualman. “As
essential nutrient in North North America becomes natural
America’s food production gas short, as we pass peak and
system. “In a fairly direct way,” become net importers, we’re
says Darrin Qualman, Director Canada’s industrial food system is deeply reliant on natural gas. going to set up a competitive
Rick Harrison (Creative Commons)
of Research at the National trade-off between the uses of
Farmers Union, “natural gas is workable,” says Qualman. “But This basic fact has global natural gas”–tar sands, food,
a primary feedstock for our food if tomorrow our fertilizer is implications. heating and power generation
supply.” made from natural gas sourced Vaclav Smil, a professor among them.
While “peak oil,” the point in Russia or the Middle East, of Environment & Geography “We really should have a
at which global production of we in effect become dependent at the University of Manitoba, long-term plan around fertility
oil begins to decline, is subject on offshore, highly unstable estimated in his 2004 book and food before we even think
to speculation, natural gas supplies for our food system.” Enriching the Earth that 40 per about ramping up production in
peaked in North America in In terms of fueling the cent of the protein in human the tar sands...we have to look
2003. Since then, more wells current food system, there are bodies worldwide could not at the next 100 years of agricul-
have been added, but produc- few compelling alternatives to have been produced without ture and the next 100 years of
tion has declined slowly, while natural gas. Coal is a possible the use of synthetic nitrogen. heating.”
prices have increased sharply. source of nitrogen but is not He concludes that roughly 2.5 “We should be saying:
As a result, says Qualman, nearly as efficient. In some billion of the world’s 6.7 billion ‘Show us the 100-year plan for
fertilizer companies are closing scenarios, nuclear power plants people could not exist without agriculture and then show us
up shop and are moving their can be used to produce fertil- synthetic fertilizer. you’ve got a surplus left over
operations to places like izer. The number of people who that can be used for the tar
Qatar, Egypt and Trinidad, A more fundamental depend on synthetic fertilizer for sands.’”
where natural gas is cheap and alternative, says Qualman, is their existence will increase as In theory, some of the
plentiful, for now. to begin restructuring the food the world population increases business world seem to agree
Canada has thus begun system. Traditionally, nitrogen by an estimated two to four that “letting the market decide”
to import natural gas. At fixing is performed by crops billion by 2050. may not be the most sound
least 10 Liquid Natural Gas like beans and chickpeas. Or, For Canada, the problem energy strategy. A January
(LNG) terminals are planned it is recycled to cropland from doesn’t stop at the food system. 2005 article in Canadian
in Quebec, British Columbia, animal manures. Using crop “When you think about the Business asserts that “with no
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia rotation and natural sources to Middle East using up its gas long-term guidelines and no
and New Brunswick, where provide nitrogen and reducing supplies,” says Qualman, “that’s surplus capacity, the only thing
liquified gas will be brought in energy inputs to agriculture a non-recoverable resource, the market can deliver is ‘vola-
from Saudi Arabia, Russia and requires changes to diets and but those places aren’t cold. tility.’”
other producers. far more intensive use of human Canada depends on natural gas The article concludes by
It is, he says, a cause for labour. for heating. It’s going to be cold quoting the president of a
concern in the coming decades. Says Qualman, “Given the here for thousands of years and Calgary-based LNG company,
“If you’re farming in Sas- industrial food system and given we’re using up our natural gas saying “Economics 101 will
katchewan or Manitoba, using a meat-based diet, nitrogen supply in decades.” According solve the mess, but the trouble
a fertilizer supply based on and natural gas are absolutely to Natural Resources Canada, is it will do so with a machete...
natural gas from Alberta looks essential.” nearly half of all Canadian It will hurt.”
24 Opinion The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
A new wave of exploitation
Canada, Alberta defy UN, sell off rights to disputed Lubicon land
by Kevin Thomas
United Nations officials
were visibly perturbed when the
UN Committee on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights met
in a conference room in Geneva
last year to consider the long-
standing land rights dispute
between the Lubicon Lake
Indian Nation and the govern-
ments of Canada and Alberta.
Just seven months
earlier, the UN Human Rights
Committee (UNHRC) had
re-affirmed a 1990 ruling that
found Canada was violating the
Lubicon people's human rights
and told the Canadian govern-
ment to negotiate a land rights
settlement with the Northern
Alberta based First Nation. The
Committee had also ruled that
Canada "should consult with the
Elder Reinie Jobin examines Lubicon land razed by oil companies. The Lubicon were not consulted or
Band before granting licences
notified. Friends of the Lubicon
for economic exploitation of the
disputed land, and ensure that
dispute and consult with the resource exploitation activity and some control over environ-
in no case such exploitation
Lubicon people before issuing including logging and large- mental and wildlife matters in
jeopardizes the rights recog-
new leases or licenses on their scale oil and gas extraction. their Traditional lands, Canada
nized under the [International
lands. Over $13 billion in oil and gas has let the situation deteriorate
Covenant on Civil and Political
The Canadian and Albertan resources have been taken further. Canada has not sent
Rights]."
governments have done from their lands. By 2002, a negotiator to the table since
In the seven months
neither. over 1,700 oil and gas well sites December 2003.
following the October 2005
The Lubicon Lake people and countless kilometres of The Alberta government,
UNHRC decision, the Alberta
are an Indigenous Nation of pipelines were situated within for its part, has further exploited
government ignored the ruling
approximately 500 people Lubicon Traditional Territory. the lack of a land rights settle-
entirely. Without so much as
living near Peace River in These massive resource ment by opening up the area
a courtesy call to the Lubicon
northern Alberta, Canada. exploitation activities have for "heavy oil" exploitation in
Nation, Alberta sold conven-
They have never surrendered decimated the traditional recent years.
tional oil and gas leases and
their rights to their Traditional Lubicon hunting and trapping "Heavy Oil" is a nicer-
exploration licences to over
Territory in any legally or his- economy and way of life, and sounding word for tar sands
65,000 hectares of Lubicon
torically recognized way. When threaten the very existence of that, when heated, can be
traditional Territory, approved
a treaty was negotiated with the Lubicon Lake People as a extracted through oil wells
50 new oil and gas wells and
other Indigenous peoples in distinct Indigenous society. rather than strip-mined.
approved almost 50 new
the region in 1899, treaty nego- With the onset of resource Since the province of Alberta
pipelines on Lubicon lands.
tiators never travelled inland to exploitation has come terrible began promoting the exploita-
Then, as UN officials
Lubicon territory and they were social and health problems tion of tar sands in the area,
gathered in May 2006 to
therefore left out of the treaty which the Lubicon people never huge operations have sprung
review the Lubicon case,
process. Even by its own Con- had to face before, such as up downwind and downstream
Alberta announced over 50,000
stitutionally-enshrined process, asthma and other respiratory from the Lubicon community
hectares of Lubicon territory
Canada has never secured rights problems, cancers of all kinds, despite Lubicon objections. And
would be put on the auction
to the lands in dispute. skin diseases and miscarriages. beginning in 2004, a number of
block for new tar sands exploi-
Despite the unresolved Although the Lubicon companies proposed to begin
tation without notifying or con-
land rights–which in any people have fought for years to large-scale "heavy oil" extrac-
sulting the Lubicon people.
society that valued the rule of establish a modern treaty with tion projects on 63-square
Upon wrapping up the
law should have given pause to Canada that would provide miles right in the heart of
hearings, the UN officials issued
further encroachment–Lubicon them with reserve lands, basic Lubicon Territory immediately
a sharply-worded ruling again,
Traditional Territory has been amenities like running water and
pushing Canada to resolve the continued on page 38 »
ravaged by multi-billion dollar decent housing, a new economy
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Environment 25
Smoking in the Greenhouse
Tar sands growth makes meeting Kyoto targets unlikely
by Yuill Herbert the end of 2020. As Stéphane
Dion famously stated in an
The Kyoto Protocol is a 900 interview when he was environ-
legally binding agreement to ment minister: “There is no
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (millions of tonnes)
the international treaty called minister of the environment
the United Nations Framework on Earth who can stop this [oil
Convention on Climate Change. 675 Government of Canada projected
GHG emissions
sands development] from going
Its objective is “the stabilization forward because there is too
of greenhouse gas concentra- much money in it.”
tions in the atmosphere at a level At the UN emergency
2012 Kyoto Target: 572
that would prevent dangerous 450 megatonnes meeting on climate this October,
anthropogenic interference 2020 Kyoto Target: 447
Stephen Harper stated, “The
with the climate system.” megatonnes core principle of Canada’s
The Kyoto Protocol aims approach to climate change
2020 estimated GHG emissions from tar sands:
to reduce global emissions 225 113 to 141 megatonnes (25 to 32% of target) is balance. We are balancing
by five per cent by 2010. The Pembina Estimates of GHG emissions environmental protection with
UN’s Intergovernmental Panel from tar sands (high and low estimates)
economic growth.”
on Climate Change states that Harper’s greenhouse gas
reductions of 50 to 85 per cent 0
emissions strategy is based on
by 2050 are needed to stabilize 1990 2007 2020 carbon intensity. This means
the climate at safe levels. that instead of reducing overall
Under the Kyoto agreement, GHG emissions, oil sands
Canada is committed to reducing estimate of 2.7 million barrels the most recent estimate in 2005 projects can successfully meet
emissions to 563 megatonnes. per day by 2005 to the govern- was 270 MT, a one hundred per the Harper government targets
At current trends, Natural ment of Canada’s estimate of cent increase. while, reports Pembina, qua-
Resources Canada projects six million barrels per day by Pembina Institute offers drupling output with the end
Canada’s emissions will exceed 2030. the only concrete numbers. In result of tripling emissions.
this level by 36 per cent–or 265 Greenhouse gas emissions 2003, emissions from the oil The regulations also give new
megatonnes–by 2010. By inter- projections for the oil sands sands accounted for 3.4 per oil sands projects a three-year
national law, countries that are complex. For example, cent of Canada’s total. As the oil grace period from any emissions
exceed their targets are required high pressure steam is used to sands continue to grow, Pembina restrictions, with an unknown
to make up the difference, plus melt the bitumen so it can be projects that by 2010 they will impact.
an additional 30 per cent, in the extracted from the sand–for account for 7.5 to 8.2 per cent of The Pembina Institute
next commitment period. this reason, producing oil from Canada’s total emissions, under is calling for the oil sands to
In a detailed analysis, the bitumen results in three times current trends. be carbon neutral by 2020 by
Pembina Institute concluded the greenhouse gas emissions Between 2000 and 2020, using a combination of offsets
in 2005 that oil sands are compared with the equivalent the Canada Research Energy and carbon capture and storage.
the single largest contribu- barrel of light or medium crude. Institute anticipates that devel- Such a strategy has its detrac-
tor to greenhouse gas (GHG) While relatively clean-burning opment and production activi- tors; organizations such as
emissions growth in Canada, natural gas is currently used to ties in the oil sands will lead Carbon Trade Watch argue that
with a rapidly increasing share provide the steam, proposals for to an increase in GDP of $885 offsets encourage a business-as-
of the country’s total emissions. coke or bitumen could double billion, reaching three per cent usual approach, when in reality
Emissions from the oil sands are the emissions, while nuclear of the country’s total GDP by dramatic changes are required.
projected to increase between power would lower greenhouse
450 and 560 per cent between gas emissions but produce 900 Projected Emissions
2003 and 2020. nuclear waste. by Province:
Commercial development The federal government (Natural Resources Canada)
Annual GHG emissions (millions of tonnes)
of the oil sands began in 1967. has not publicly released its
675 Alberta
In 1995, the Alberta Chamber projections of future GHG
of Resources laid out a strategy emissions from the oil sands
that envisioned tar sands pro- since December 1999. However,
duction doubling or tripling the rapid growth of the oil sands 450
by 2020. This timeline was corresponds with the dramatic Saskatchewan
BC
exceeded by 16 years–oil sands increases in the government’s
production more then doubled estimate of how much Canada Quebec
225
by 2004 to 1.1 million barrels will overshoot its Kyoto target.
per day. Current projections In 1997, Canada anticipated Ontario
range from the Canadian Asso- its emissions would exceed its
ciation of Petroleum Producers’ Kyoto target by 137 MT, whereas 0
1990 2020
26 Feature The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Impacting Unimpaired
SPP and TILMA are aimed directly at unimpeded tar sands extraction
by Macdonald Stainsby
Demonstrations against
the Security and Prosperity
Partnership (SPP) began in the
Summer of 2007, but several
of the issues raised by anti-SPP
organizers invoked déjà vu
for many observers: informal
agreements, secret talks, plans
to do away with layers of
national sovereignty in favour of
corporate rules of engagement
set to supersede labour organiz-
ing, environmental regulations
or human rights. The laundry
list of rule changes sounded a lot
like debates of years past–the
FTA, MAI, APEC, FTAA and
NAFTA.
However, a deeper look Police launch tear gas at demonstrators during a Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) meeting in
at the driving force behind the Ottawa last August. Stefan Christoff
new acronyms tells a different future, is potentially constrained the SPP have specific aims that statement. “Through the SPP
story, one of a world with new unless expressly excluded in go beyond the usual attempt to and the North American Energy
dynamics like peak oil, tar sands the agreement. Measures are enshrine investors’ rights and Working Group, the govern-
and the extreme measures that defined broadly and include protect corporations from gov- ments of Mexico, United States
North American governments any legislation, regulation, ernment regulations. and Canada have formed an
are attempting to use in the tar standard, directive, require- Both agreements pave the unprecedented collaboration
sands to keep an oil-dependent ment, guideline, program, way–in many cases literally–for with energy corporations to
economy going. policy, administrative practice, the largest industrial project promote the continental inte-
Before the SPP became or other procedure.” in history to move forward: a gration of our energy industries
a larger issue nationally and CUPE also describes the project that calls for the extrac- and infrastructures.”
continentally, the Trade, SPP as “another attempt of tion of over 170 billion barrels The result has surpris-
Investment & Labour Mobility corporate America, in partner- of recoverable oil from the tar ingly few benefits for Alberta or
Agreement (TILMA) had ship with their political and sands of Alberta’s Athabasca, Canada. A massive, ecologically
already been passed in British corporate allies in Canada and Peace and Cold Lake regions. rich region will be reduced to
Columbia and Alberta. The Mexico, to reduce the power of The SPP and TILMA have an industrial sacrifice area. The
agreement, having passed as government to protect citizens anticipated popular resistance synthetic crude that it renders
legislation and set to be “phased from profit-hungry business. and preemptively removed the will go south to the US. Royalties
in” by April 2009, plays a role “Their intention is to scale ability of governments to control for Albertans and Canadians
complementary to the SPP and down government regulations the massive supply of energy, are minimal, and communities
continues to be similarly criti- and controls that try to protect land, water and labour needed living in the vast area that will
cized by many organizers for our society, culture and envi- in the tar sands. They similarly be strip-mined–Indigenous
the anti-democratic way it has ronment. Specifically, the SPP preempt governments’ ability and settler alike–will be dis-
been implemented. will minimize controls in areas to regulate the destruction and mantled.
According to an analysis like immigration, food and pollution that the “gigaproject” The “Oil Sands Experts
published by the Canadian agriculture, natural resource will create. Working Group,” a part of
Union of Public Employees, exploitation, public services The Communications, the 2006 SPP meetings in
TILMA “encompasses provincial and entertainment.” Energy and Paperworkers union Houston, calls the tar sands
and local governments, regional TILMA is a new set of limi- (CEP) is concerned. “a significant contributor to
districts, school boards, health tations on government’s ability “As energy workers, we energy supply and security for
and social services. to regulate and the SPP is the are compelled first of all to the continent.” According to the
“Nearly every action by a removal of a pre-existing set of respond to the SPP energy group, it was founded “when
government, now and in the regulations. Both TILMA and agenda,” the CEP said in a the three countries agreed to
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Feature 27
collaborate through the SPP on lation that affects their profits. breach of the agreement. policy will be when Chinese
the sustainable development of A third party then rules on the These secretive deals and investment in Canadian tar
the oil sands resources.” The “dispute” at hand. This has seen agreements are taking place sands and Venezuelan oil devel-
working group includes the US, Canada paying to maintain during the single largest energy opment make it increasingly
Canadian and Alberta govern- some of its legislation around policy shift in North America difficult for us to get access to
ment representatives. tobacco and environmental since the peaking of US domestic the resources.”
What does “sustainable regulations, for example. oil production in the seventies. That hypothetical situation
development of the oil sands TILMA, however, starts on Internationally, the US is has come about more quickly,
resources” consist of? The the assumption that the investor in a scramble for remaining oil since the Iraqi resistance has
same SPP report says that it is correct. Unlike the resolution reserves. Chinese demand for cut off access to “stable” flows
requires expanded “integrated process seen in Chapter 11 of oil continues to grow. Disasters of petroleum and Venezuela has
long distance pipelines,” plans NAFTA, the current agreement such as hurricanes and war–and reduced its contribution to US
for which are “already in place” includes an automatic up-to-$5 the fact that only one barrel of energy markets by one third.
to accommodate “the certain million penalty for a govern- oil is discovered for every nine The US has shifted their boom
doubling of oil sands produc- ment body (at any level other that are used–have brought oil from Baghdad and Kirkuk to
tion to two million barrels per than federal) that violates the prices to record highs since the Fort McMurray and Grand
day by 2010. rules of “free access” for capital. US invasion of Iraq in March Prairie. Many Venezuelans who
“The five-fold expansion For example, if a city blocks 2003. With an economic and oppose their country’s socialist
anticipated for oil sands the construction of a building military structure that needs government have re-settled in
products in a relatively short for reasons of heritage, costing vast supplies of hydrocarbons Alberta.
time span,” the report says, a corporation a projected $4 everyday, North American Whether led by Liberals or
“will represent many challenges Conservatives, Canada has been
for the pipeline industry.” more than willing to help this
To accomplish this, the shift. Approvals for tar sands
report concludes, “Governments Yukon
Territory operations and newly designed
N u n a v u t
are encouraged to streamline Northwest
Territories
agreements help to take Tar
the regulatory approval process British Columbia
Sands development to unfath-
and better manage the risk Alberta
Newfoundland
omable levels of expansion.
to both pipeline and energy Saskatchewan
Manitoba
& Labrador
The industry that extracts
projects. Edmonton Q u e b e c bitumen and then crude oil
Calgary O n t a r i o
“Canadian governments Vancouver
Winnipeg New P.E.I. from tar sands was once aiming
Brunswick
have already gone a long way to to get to production levels of one
p
Thunder Bay Nova Scotia
. Helena Montreal Quebec
co-ordinating and streamlining Canamex Fargo Duluth
Minneapolis
Ottawa million barrels per day (bpd)
Corridor I-29
the environmental and regula- Salt Lake City .
I-15 Port Huron Toronto
.
Windsor-Detroit
by 2012. Last year, the average
Des Moines
tory approvals, but more needs Omaha
Indianapolis already surpassed 1.3 million.
to be done.” Las Vegas . Kansas City p I-35 The swiftly rising price of oil and
Los Angeles
I-69
TILMA sets up a free trade .Phoenix Oklahoma City Memphis the near-impossibility of a long
Alliance Texas Little Rock
zone between Alberta and B.C. Nogales. Ft. Worth p
term drop in price has suddenly
that “breaks down barriers” Hermosillo. San Antonio p
Houston allowed a major shift towards
Laredo
for all industries. April 2007 Map 1 .
Mexico
Matamoros
producing this oil, which is only
Mazatlan Monterrey
saw the official beginning of The NAFTA Corridors
Bajio/Central profitable at a barrel price of at
p Tampico
the TILMA agreement, sold and Canada Guadalajara
Mexico City
least $30.
Manzanillo
as giving Alberta and B.C. a Existing and under construction Lazaro Cardenas
Veracruz
The production process
“competitive” way to deal with Proposed and under construction
Proposed
of the synthetic oil is unlike
Ontario’s vast size advantage. Proposed CAFTA corridor anything else: there are huge
p Inland Ports
In reality, TILMA turns the labour and energy needs
provinces into locations where NAFTA trade corridors will be used to import labour and move currently unavailable to the
corporations can sue any person equipment and goods to the tar sands. Richard Vogel producers, needs that are being
or entity that tries to legislate drawn up and planned through
or otherwise invoke regula- million, then the governing body energy concerns have found TILMA and the SPP.
tions that would make invest- that invokes the regulations the oil “boom” in Northern The US Department of
ment more “troublesome.” “impacting or impairing” owes Alberta that was expected in the Energy and Natural Resources
The agreement bans measures that corporation $4 million. aftermath of a regime change in Canada had another secret
which “impact or impair” Article 3 of TILMA reads, Iraq. meeting, along with US energy
investment and allows even an in part: “Each Party shall ensure In response to Chinese corporations, in February 2006.
individual investor the right that its measures do not operate interest in the tar sands, US Some details of the meeting
to sue governments to knock to restrict or impair trade energy expert Irving Mintzer were leaked earlier this year to
down such “impediments” and between or through the territory blurted out, “The problem the CBC. The agenda: to reduce
receive compensation for loss of of the Parties, or investment or with the Chinese is that they labour and environmental rights
revenue. labour mobility between the don’t know that the Canadian in order to ramp up produc-
What can be seen as an Parties.” The agreement has oil is ours. And neither do the tion from the Athabasca, Peace
impediment under TILMA is specifically designed protocols Canadians.” In the same breath and Cold Lake tar sands to five
extensive. Under NAFTA, cor- for hearings to be held if one or Mintzer noted, “One provoca-
porations can “challenge” legis- more of the signatories are in tion for rethinking US energy continued on page 44 »
28 Feature The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Can Pew’s Charity be Trusted?
US foundations give millions to Canadian environmental groups
by Dru Oja Jay
Since major foundations in
the US began funding environ-
mental groups in the late 1980s,
many grassroots environmental
activists have sounded the
alarm about the rise of the
“Big Greens.” Featuring six-
figure salaries and foundation
funding, critics say the large
environmental NGOs coopt
grassroots movements and
excercise control over what
issues are brought up.
Recently, some activists
are warning of a similar shift
in Canada. In 2006, land-use
planner Petr Cizek wrote an Is money from US foundations slowing down efforts to stop tar sands mines? Dru Oja Jay
article for Canadian Dimension,
calling attention to millions of Heritage Foundation, the John “industry partners.” Pew funding “doesn’t have to do
dollars from US foundations Birch Society, and the American Does the money have an with whether money is tainted,
being given to Canadian envi- Enterprise Institute. effect on the groups’ agenda? but whether a funder directly
ronmental groups. In the early 1990s, the Pew “Our role is convener and interferes with the agenda of an
The money comes from the Trusts began funding environ- talent scout,” says Innes. CBI’s environmental organization.”
Pew Charitable Trusts, which mental groups. aim is to be “in a position to “The Pew Charitable Trusts
is endowed by the fortune of Since 2003, Pew has spent advance conservation objec- have consistently set up front
Joseph Pew and his heirs, as about $41 million on programs tives.” In many cases, CBI sets groups” that act as a drag on
well as more recent donors. on the Canadian boreal forest. up meetings between industry, the overall demands of environ-
Joseph Pew founded Sun Oil, Much of this money went aboriginal groups and conser- mental groups, Cizek says.
now Sunoco, a US oil company environmental and aboriginal vationists in order to establish He sees a “pattern of
with revenues of $36 billion in groups, and came into Canada common priorities. funding from CBI” correspond-
2006. Under Pew, Sun Oil also via through the Canadian Lindsay Telfer, director of ing to “a pattern of incredible
founded Suncor, a Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI). CBI is the Sierra Club’s Prairie Region, timidity among the mainstream
counterpart to Sun Oil and technically a project of Ducks which has received CBI funding environmental organizations,
currently one of the two largest Unlimited, a conservation in the past, says that groups who don’t seem to be able to
operations in Alberta’s tar group operating in the US and need to be careful with funding take a principled stand on
sands. Suncor has been inde- Canada, though this relation- sources. anything.” Cizek notes that
pendent since 1995. ship is not stated in materials “Is there a risk that some Canadian Parks and Wilderness
Sunoco’s US refineries on CBI’s web site. CBI has environmental groups are going Society (CPAWS) and the World
process synthetic crude oil from no board of directors, and no to go down a more conservative Wildlife Federation (WWF), two
the tar sands. According to a official status as an organization path because they get funding? major recipients of CBI funding
2004 Philadelphia Inquirer other than its affiliation with I don’t doubt that,” Telfer told listed as “partners” in CBI’s TV
report, a Sunoco-run Ohio Ducks Unlimited. Critics point the Dominion. “We have to ads, have taken a “low-hanging
refinery processes 100,000 out that there that this leaves keep our eyes on our mandates fruit” strategy of lobbying for
barrels of synthetic crude per no mechanism for holding CBI and our goals.” protection of areas that are of
day. accountable for how it uses its “I believe I’ve lost funding little interest to industry.
The Pew foundation’s money. because of our positions on the Innes says CBI was founded
original mission reflects on “the According to Executive tar sands, but where I’ve lost it, to address a “tremendous
evils of bureaucracy, the para- Director Larry Innes, CBI gives I’ve picked it up in other places,” opportunity to do develop-
lyzing effects of government out approximately $2 million says Telfer. “It’s a difficult ment differently in Canada.”
controls on the lives and activi- per year, though the figure debate, because in some ways The opportunity, Innes say, is
ties of people, and the values of varies. The money is disbursed all money is dirty money.” the culmination of a series of
the free market.” Pew money in roughly equal measure to “The question to ask is, ‘Are trends in conservation work:
has funded many right-wing conservation NGOs and aborig- there ties to how that money is the recognition of treaty rights,
Christian groups and conserva- inal groups. Suncor, among being spent?’”
others, is listed as one of CBI’s Cizek says his critique of continued on page 46 »
tive think tanks, including the
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Environment 29
Environmentalism in Alberta?
Activists say communities are beginning to stand up to tar sands
by Samantha Power one pressure point. Great Bear
Rainforest campaigners used
In Alberta it’s easy to forget many tactics. In addition to
what political change looks like. international attention from
Still, in a province coated with Greenpeace, local activists,
deep blue Tory promises of a students and Haida elders stood
stable economic future, the together in defense of Clayquot
paint is beginning to wear thin. Sound, blocking logging and
In three consecutive consulta- defending the last 13 intact
tions Albertans have clearly watersheds–an action that
stated that they desire govern- ultimately resulted in over 900
ment intervention, whether it’s arrests. Clayquot Sound and the
to create housing, to slow the Great Bear Rainforest campaign
pace of growth, or to increase was about aboriginal land rights
the royalties collected from tar and resource management.
sands extraction. These issues are familiar to
Following his 1992 election anti-tar sands campaigners.
victory, Premier Ralph Klein With years of environmen-
declared the province ‘open for tal negotiating falling on deaf
business,’ and Albertans, fearful government ears and recent
of growing debt, accepted a public consultations falling by
vision of stable growth after the wayside, civil disobedience
years of economic depression. might be Alberta’s last resort
As natural resources were “Stop the tar sands man” and other demonstrators appeared outside in ending a devastating project.
opened up to massive exploita- a stampede breakfast hosted by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach. “Direct action has always had
tion, however, the result has Activists say Albertans are increasingly concerned about the a role in social change because
been an overheated economy, environmental impact of oil development. it’s had the role of shocking
and a crumbling infrastructure and bringing to light oppres-
unable to handle the influx of now hearing sentiments saying, put power back in the people’s sion ideas that haven’t been
workers and families. yes we produce oil here, but ulti- hands. “We need to be mobiliz- named,” says Jorge Sousa, an
Today, Albertans are mately we are living here and ing communities and people,” educational policy professor
beginning to stir. Leila Darwish, we want to have clean water.” says Darwish, “as a movement with the University of Alberta
Associate Prairie Chapter After 10 years in the envi- not just reaching out to join and a specialist in community
Director of the Sierra Club, ronmental movement, Darwish us on our big campaign, but to governance models. He believes
sees change afoot. “In Alberta, says it’s about mobilizing com- help people in a local fight and all tactics need to be engaged to
for the first time in a long time munities. “There has been a lot empower them to step it up in create public debate. And new
we’ve been hearing more and of negotiating with government. their own communities.” tactics are finally showing up.
more from impacted communi- It’s one thing to sit at the table if Valerie Langer, a cam- With the tar sands defeating
ties that the government they’ve you have power and a big stick, paigner with B.C. ForestEth- Canada’s ability to meet its
supported no longer supports but if you don’t have any power, ics’ Great Bear Rainforest Kyoto targets and carbon
their interests. As an environ- you can’t negotiate.” campaign, thinks Albertans are emissions estimated to increase
mental movement we have to With recent threats of on the right path. “The popula- to 80 million tonnes, the world
be ready to act on that.” nuclear power stations in the tion of Alberta is in the right is finally taking notice. Alberta’s
“For years and years communities of Whitecourt place, they’re getting angry traditionally conservative
environmental activists and and Peace River, local activist and getting wise in how their political environment might be
scientists have been raising movements are growing. The land is given away to corporate shocked into action by tactics of
the problems of all these issues Tipping Point project in White- interests.” Working to save organizations like Greenpeace,
and for years they have just court is composed of parents the Great Bear Rainforest in an environmental group known
been completely ignored. The and concerned community British Columbia, a campaign for its radical or militant direct
community has lost a lot of that members–exactly the composi- that was ultimately won, Langer action, which has recently
sense of success about moving tion growing movements need credits Greenpeace’s success opened a new office in Alberta.
that environmental agenda to see. They’re not alone. The to boycotts against buyers of Darwish’s hopes remain
forward,” says Bill Moore- Sierra Club is in these commu- paper products. “The market with the people. “We have a
Kilgannon, Executive Director nities providing training and is a very powerful tool and if government that thinks people
of Public Interest Alberta. But information on political action. you can shift the buying habits are pretty complacent and can
as a long-time Alberta activist, Holding workshops for activists you question whether it’s get away with doing whatever
Moore-Kilgannon believes and public forums for the larger worthwhile for the company to they need to do and we need to
the environmental message is community, Darwish says the invest,” says Langer. show that people are willing to
finally getting through. “We’re Sierra Club is attempting to The marketplace is just fight, and to fight hard.”
30 Environment The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Sustainable Tar Sands Development?
Government is responsible, say experts
by Rachel Penner de Waal ensure the resource is mined
in an environmentally friendly
Alberta’s current royalty and sustainable way. We are
regime has likely cost the stewards of the resource on
province more in lost revenue behalf of Albertans.”
than Trudeau’s National Woynillowicz says the tar
Energy Program did, according sands are being “mismanaged”
to a senior policy analyst at the and the province has been
Pembina Institute. unwilling to address the rate
Dan Woynillowicz, who of development. The Pembina
works with the environmental Institute advocates a morato-
think tank, says the September rium on new tar sands projects,
18 provincial review of the something the majority of
royalty system proves that Albertans support, says Woynil-
Albertans aren’t getting their lowicz.
fair share from tar sands devel- The rapid development of
opment. The review advises the tar sands is the root cause
increasing the royalty rate from of economic inflation, neglected
25 per cent to 33 per cent. infrastructure and environ-
Alberta Energy spokes- mental damage, he says. But
Currently, industry is making decisions about how the tar sands are
person Tim Markle says the oil producers are responsible
developed. Dru Oja Jay
province will respond to the to their shareholders and won’t
review’s recommendations industry has been able to create resource revenues and dividing voluntarily decide to slow down
toward the middle or end of fear over the review because the it among four areas, including development.
October. sector plays such a significant the Heritage Fund, the prov- “This is a matter of public
“[The royalty system] was role in job creation and govern- ince’s savings fund. Kevin Taft, land. The government has the
developed a long time ago as ment revenues. If the province’s leader of the provincial Liberal responsibility for creating the
an incentive to produce our economy were more diverse, party, also believes the province playing field,” says Woynillow-
oil up north,” Markle explains. one industry wouldn’t have so needs to create a long-term icz.
“While oil sands are certainly much leverage over the govern- strategy for tar sands develop- He points out that the
the future, the majority of what ment. ment. His approach would federal government also has
we receive now is the result of “The government is respon- include partnering with other clear areas of jurisdiction, such
natural gas.” sible to protect Alberta from western provinces. as in the area of greenhouse
The oil industry has said boom and bust,” says Woynil- “If I were the premier, I gases and global warming.
an increase in royalties will lowicz. “It needs to diversify would be calling a meeting of However, Ottawa is not living
scare off investors and ruin the the economy so we are not so the other provinces to sit down up to its job of representing all
economy. Woynillowicz says dependent on energy resource and look at ways we can work Canadians due to many reasons,
the industry’s reaction, while development and a global together to determine our own including the support the Con-
expected, is disturbing. supply and demand market.” destinies. Right now, the Alberta servative minority government
“It is overstated, full of Woynillowicz says the government is just shrugging has from Alberta.
rhetoric and not grounded in Pembina Institute doesn’t its shoulders,” says Taft. “One “When they do introduce
reality. Producers are looking advocate government interven- million barrels of unprocessed new regulations that would
to their own interests and doing tion in oil sales or foreign invest- bitumen are leaving the country impact the oil sands, they are
so in a way that is deceiving ment in the tar sands, but says every day. We can’t handle it all creating large loopholes (for the
Albertans.” the province needs to manage in Alberta. Think of what we can industry),” says Woynillowicz.
Woynillowicz points out the rate of development. do together as a team.” “To date, the federal govern-
that while producers claim the As for the royalties the According to the Canadian ment has been dodging their
review panel didn’t use the right province does collect, Woynillo- Association of Petroleum responsibility.”
data, they were using a 10-year- wicz says they need to be better Producers, production from the He says if Canadians want
old report to substantiate their managed. Considering that tar sands is expected to reach the federal government to play
claims. He also notes that over petroleum is a non-renewable four million barrels a day by a role in tar sands develop-
the past 50 years, “an incredible resource, the province should 2020. ment, they can communicate
amount of money” from the be saving a portion of revenues However, Markle says the their wishes through a variety
federal and provincial govern- to ensure future Albertans can province doesn’t have a strategy of ways, including a federal
ments facilitated technological continue to have a high quality for developing the tar sands. election.
innovations that private corpo- of life, he says. That is left up to producers. The Canadian Association
rations needed to develop the The Alberta Liberals “Industry is the driver of Petroleum Producers did not
tar sands. advocate taking almost one of it,” says Markle. “The gov- return calls.
Woynillowicz says the oil third of annual non-renewable ernment is basically here to
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 31
“Oil Versus Water,” continued from page 12 »
lands.” different kinds of cancer, as solutions, is that we can no “Alberta’s saving grace has
University of Alberta well as what we call auto-im- longer be sacrificed.” been the water that flows out
ecologist David Schindler, mune diseases like rheumatoid Toxins from tailing ponds of the Rocky Mountains,” said
winner of the 1991 Stockholm arthritis, lupus, various skin aren’t the only problem on the Schindler. “The only reason we
Water Prize (known as “water rashes,” O’Connor told the Athabasca, however. have developments like Calgary
science’s Nobel Prize”), Dominion. “The malignant–the Estimates have oil pro- and Medicine Hat is because of
expressed concern over indus- cancerous diseases have been duction at 3 million barrels that water. That water is drying
try-related chemicals found in the biggest concern.” per day by 2015. At this rate, up.”
the water and their effect on One condition, Cholangio- the Athabasca tar sands are “It’s a little bit ironic
human health. carcinoma, normally occurs in projected to last over 400 years. that the province that’s been
one out of 100,000 people. But But along with the effects of opposing greenhouse-gas regu-
in Fort Chipewyan, “We’ve had climate change, water usage lations the most is going to be
“If there’s no two tissue biopsy confirmed
cases...and possibly another
will exacerbate the drying of the
Athabasca.
the first to suffer, but that’s
where we are,” said Schindler in
land, then it’s three or four which didn’t
actually get to tissue biopsy
Because the Athabasca
River is iced-over for long
May of this year.
That tar sands mining is the
equivalent in diagnosis.”
“In a population of between
periods, it is susceptible to low
oxygen levels from decompos-
cause of toxins in the water and
the recent upturn in diseases
our estimation 750 and 1200, that’s very unex-
pected.”
ing organic matter. Diminished
flows could exacerbate low
and cancers is a foregone con-
clusion for many residents of
to genocide of “There are all kinds of sick-
nesses going on,” said Allan
oxygen levels. This threatens
high flows that flood shallow-
Fort Chipewyan.
Nonetheless, O’Connor
a people.” Adam, a councillor with ACFN.
“The elders say that before, in
side channels and perched
basins in the delta, which are
says that the way forward lies in
getting the government to inves-
the 70s, people weren’t sick like critical spawing grounds for fish tigate the problem and verify
In an interview with Oil they are now. That’s when all like walleye. the source of the illnesses.
Sands Truth, Schindler said his the oil sands started develop- “About the most positive “I’ve asked for a baseline
biggest concern is the possibil- ing.” thing I can say is that I’m glad health study to be done in the
ity of a breach of massive tailing Warning signs of toxicity I’m a human being and not a community. This has been asked
ponds near Fort McMurray, have also turned up in animals. fish in Alberta,” said Schindler. for before,” said O’Connor. “If
which now cover an estimated “Some people say that they’ve While Fort Chipewyan and the population south of here
50-square kilometres. “Those seen spots inside the animals, other communities downstream is concerned about the health
ponds are acutely toxic that they won’t eat the from the tar sands are the first of this community, I would
material, so they would affect moosemeat because there’s a to suffer, scientists say Alberta expect further pressure for such
things probably well down the different taste in it now,” said is not far behind. a study to be done will result
Athabasca and into the Slave Adam. “Fish have different The 1900s, said Schindler, in it being done and will shed
River, and possibly beyond the growths on them, that weren’t has been unusually wet in much-needed light on what is
Slave Delta.” there before. Pusses growing Alberta, but that is not likely to happening.”
Such a breach, said out of their skin, and the gills are remain the case. “Any farmer Schindler says that the
Schindler, could conceivably deformed on some of them.” will tell you that it was pretty immediate solution is for
occur in the event of extreme After O’Connor took his borderline for agriculture here the government to install a
rainfall or an earthquake. It is claims public and called for an in the twentieth century, and a water treatment plant in Fort
not just the extreme possibility inquiry into the effects of the tar good part of the province had to Chipewyan, to address the
that has Schindler concerned, sands operations on water, he rely on irrigation water.” problem with the drinking
however. became the subject of an official “If we get a return to water, and then investigate.
“We know that those complaint by officials at Health those earlier conditions with For George Poitras, the
[tailing pond] dykes do seep Canada. He subsequently gained the effects of climate change battle over the ongoing mining
some material. They try to catch the support of the community, and with the high population comes down to the fundamental
it at the bottom and pump it environmental groups and First and industrial growth here, we right to exist.
back over the top. I don’t know Nations. The Alberta Medical have the makings of a perfect “If we don’t have land and
what per cent efficiency they Association unanimously storm with respect to effects on we don’t have anywhere to carry
have, but very few things are passed a resolution defending water.” out our traditional lifestyle, we
100 per cent efficient.” his “professional obligation and While oil companies lose who we are as a people.
In Fort Chipewyan, there his right to speak out when he pumping over 100 billion gallons So if there’s no land, then it’s
have been reports of increases observes something.” of water out of the Athabasca equivalent in our estimation to
in diseases and cancers. Chief Roxanne Marcel of the ever year will be the main genocide of a people.”
A local doctor, John Mikisew Cree First Nation has problem for life downstream on “Here, we’re living in a G8
O’Connor, reported dispro- issued an appeal: “Our message the Athabasca, it is likely to be country, fully developed, one
portionately high incidents of to both levels of government, climate change–fueled increas- of the most advanced countries
colon, liver, blood and bile-duct to Albertans, to Canadians and ingly by the tar sands–that as far as quality of life and as
cancers in the community. to the world who may depend will affect the water supply of Indigenous people, we’re still
“There have been several on oil sands for their energy Edmonton and Calgary. fighting for our existence.”
32 The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Women and housing, continued from page 20 »
only Canadian province that development,” says Ray Martin. deal which would have to have between January and May of
has not added child care spaces “I think that there are just too been accepted in totality or not this year, and the number keeps
over the last 15 years. In fact, many tar sands projects going at all. rising.
it is the only province that has on right now. There should be For example, a law Alberta’s housing crisis
seen a decrease; between 1992 fewer projects.” stipulating the amount of legal is massive and affects people
increases, and a law limiting across demographic boundaries.
rent increases to only once “Employees at Calgary women’s
“If a woman is sleeping with her a year, are complementary,
whereas picking and choosing
shelters are as in need of afford-
able housing as the women they
landlord to maintain a roof over her from the recommendations
creates loopholes. “There is
serve,” says Reimer. “What’s
worse, the salaries being paid
head, then she is homeless. Other resistance to approving the
whole package,” says Martin.
in the oil industry are so high,
they can’t find people to work
women will do it for money for “One of the
arguments is that accepting
main in donut shops, let alone
shelters.”
drugs, to medicate a trauma that rent controls would provide The province has resorted
even less incentive for the gov- to hiring government employees
they’ve suffered which has gone ernment to create much needed from the service sector and has
affordable housing. But the fact successfully recruited employees
untreated–they are also homeless. remains that there are no limits from women’s shelters.
on rent and I still haven’t seen Women’s shelter workers see
Others will hang out in a bar, more affordable housing being this as adding insult to injury.
created.” Reimer cites occurrences of
hoping for a bed and a safe place– A tenancy law passed in workers from women’s shelters
May that promises tenants a being lured from their jobs for
they are also homeless.” full year’s eviction notice (when positions at Dunkin’ Donuts, a
landlords plan to convert their company known to offer ‘signing
apartments to condos) is being bonuses’ of $1,500 to increase
and 2004, the number of spaces Federal Liberal cuts to avoided in practice through a their chances of acquiring staff.
dropped by 7.2 per cent. social infrastructure in the number of loopholes. The full “What needs to happen
Despite a serious lack of 1990s and decades of provin- year’s notice only applies to immediately,” says Reimer, “is
child care spaces, Alberta’s pop- cial Conservative inaction on periodic tenants, whose leases a government investment that
ulation is growing at five times social housing have together set are renewed without notice. For will allow the [human services]
the national rate, and faster the stage for Alberta’s current everyone else, the majority of sector to provide competitive
than anywhere in the Western housing crisis. Alberta’s Afford- whom are fixed-term tenants, wages and benefits that will
world. The strong economy has able Housing Task Force, which the lease ends on the date attract and retain a workforce.
encouraged migration to the toured in the spring of this indicated, and no notice has to Frontline shelter workers need
province, which has contrib- year, found that Calgary’s 2006 be given by the landlord to end to be respected by the govern-
uted to a 10.4 per cent increase homeless count indicated a 32 the tenancy. ment.”
in total population since 2001, per cent increase over the past Dania Kochan, an Susan Scott says that
and a rental vacancy rate of 0.9 two years. Edmonton showed Edmonton resident whose there is no substitute for a real
per cent–the lowest in a genera- an increase of 19 per cent, while lease had expired, had made an strategy for dealing with home-
tion, and a third of the national Fort McMurray’s homeless agreement with her landlord lessness. The responsibility, she
average. population rose by 24 per cent. to rent on a month-to-month says, lies with the government
If current economic growth Housing prices in Calgary have basis. In June, she was given and with the people of Alberta.
continues apace to 2025, the soared by 50 to 60 per cent in one month’s eviction notice, “Alberta is really good at
province could face an estimated the last year alone, and by an and told by Service Alberta, band-aid solutions,” says Scott.
shortfall of 332,000 workers, average of 14 per cent in all of the government branch that “People will give at Christmas,
many of whom are expected Alberta. oversees and enforces tenancy and Thanksgiving, so you can
to come from other countries, Alberta has yet to adopt laws, to “get a lawyer” when she see it’s really not a thorough
and will also need places to rent-increase guidelines similar complained. process; we give, and we turn
live. Already, housing formerly to those employed in Ontario or Jim Gurnett of the right around and blame the
considered affordable has been B.C. Of all the recommendations Edmonton Coalition on Housing victims. No housing means that
purchased for “worker housing.” made by Alberta’s Affordable and Homelessness (ECOHH) people will be homeless. Shelter
There now exists a new group of Housing Task Force, the most finds the situation tiring. “Poor is a right. Society has set it up
workers that cannot afford to controversial item by far was tenants are not a high priority,” so access is limited to those who
pay rent. In Fort McMurray, for the proposal to introduce rent says Gurnett. can afford it.”
example, it is common to pay control. According to Martin, “Just as long as the govern-
over $1,000 for one room. who supports the recommenda- ment can point to a law that’s The Edmonton Small Press
“Not enough money is being tions, the Task Force, for the there to protect them,” they feel Association contributed infor-
spent on infrastructure to keep purpose of proposing effective that’s enough. There were 4,100 mation and contacts to this
up with the speed of tar sands measures, presented a package condo conversions in Calgary article.
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Visuals 33
A tar sands strip mine operated by Syncrude. Dru Oja Jay
34 Maps The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 35
“Sublime Tar Sands,” continued from page 15 »
scapes. But the works cannot presents the most distasteful he has spent his career docu- despite his undisputed talent as
be labelled “eco-propaganda,” industrial wasteland as one of menting. He has collaborated a master photographer, “Alas,
nor do they clearly glorify the most spectacular places on with Jennifer Baichwal on the as an environmental activist, he
the industrial practices they earth. This ambiguity allows a documentary Manufactured is a failure.”
present. Sometimes it is even myriad of different meanings Landscapes, a poignant portrait Indeed, while Burtynsky’s
difficult to tell what the subject to be read into his photographs: of what industry is doing to the photographs of Canadian
is. The hundreds of black hills industry CEOs choose them for people and land in China, and industry make for great art, they
of processed earth that have their walls; activists point to he recently wrote an article for operate within the Canadian
been photographed with the them as evidence of environ- The Walrus, in which he decries political mainstream and do
same sensitivity one would mental catastrophe. This is both the resource extraction taking little to shake up the conscious-
expect from a postcard of the the potential power of his pieces place in Canada. In the article, ness of a public content to keep
Grand Canyon turn out to be Oil and the largest point of political he calls for the Canadian gov- looking away from the social
Fields No. 24, Oil Sands, Fort criticism of them. ernment to mandate sustain- and environmental degradation
McMurray, Alberta (2001). Recently, Burtynsky has able practices in the extraction that is taking place in its own
What looks like a vibrant river started to dispel some of the and sale of Canada’s natural backyard.
of fire is actually the enduring uncertainty of his environmen- resources, including the Alberta Edward Burtynsky’s pho-
liquid waste of a nickel mine. In tal views by speaking publicly tar sands. However, a letter to tographic works can be viewed
this way, Burtynsky masterfully about the industrial processes the editor sharply notes that, online at edwardburtynsky.com.
“Richest First Nation,” continued from page 18 »
intrusion. The plant is located fathered by workers who are Energy Oil Sands would like into desert. Some community
approximately 12 kilometres long gone. to notify local residents that members will no longer eat the
from MacKay as the crow flies. Perhaps nowhere are the throughout June and July there fish or moose and many can’t
There, huge volumes of water symptoms of this breakdown is a potential for increased flaring trust the water flowing from
are sucked out of the river. more acute than in Fort MacKay, and emissions for a scheduled their own taps. “You can’t drink
Some of the worst effects are where the niece of a top band tie-in event. Increased flaring oil to live. You can’t eat money to
the various forms of pollution council member was hospital- may occur during the shut down live,” said Harpe. “If you’ve got
that are expelled into the air ized after being beaten over the and start up of Upgrader 2...If no water, you’ve got no life.”
and the water in the area right at head days before our visit. you have concerns, call Suncor’s Most residents of Fort
the plant. Suncor has colonized Today in Fort MacKay, there Community Consultation Office MacKay aren’t as publicly
an island in the middle of the is a resignation of fate for many at...” outspoken. But when they get to
Athabasca River–turning it into members of the community. Elsewhere in Alberta, talking, a transition sometimes
a giant tailings island of waste Syncrude and Suncor make it flaring is blamed for premature takes place. Talk of the inevi-
material. The size of the dykes known that they want to be seen deaths and stillbirths in tability of the projects–of the
has been growing for 40 years. as the companies who “take livestock and human beings. “it’s bad, but what can you do?”
Some day, they may give way. care” of the community and Throughout the area, variety–is briefly sidelined, and
The speed of growth of work in constant co-operation Syncrude and Suncor make anger shines through. Words
the tar sands, the quantities with the residents. Yet there are their names as public as pos- like “crime against humanity”
of money that will be infused no open forums and holding a sible–on calendars, on booths and “getting away with murder”
to develop them, and the vast referendum or giving any actual at events, at parks and cultural issue from people who now
influx of migrant workers from decision-making power to the happenings; their names even make their living from the tar
other parts of Canada and original owners of the territory permeate annual Treaty Day sands and related employment.
beyond trigger social breakdown is out of the question. celebrations. In many cases, it surprises the
in varying degrees. Alienated, “Keeping you informed” is The Indigenous peoples person speaking as much as
unhappy work forces will abuse the slogan attached to a notice of the Athabasca region, in it surprises us. It seems that
drugs and alcohol, leading to posted recently in the Band particular the community of having the names “Suncor” and
violence, prostitution, elder Council’s office building in Fort MacKay, have watched the Syncrude” attached to radio
and spousal abuse and children town. The notice reads: “Suncor water turn toxic, muskeg turn commercials, books, events and
more has an isolating effect on
believing what one sees with
one’s own eyes.
It makes one wonder what
prevailing opinion would be
if it were not widely assumed
that the unlimited expansion
of the tar sands is inevitable
and unstoppable. Perhaps that
confidence will come in a small
community if challenging the
tar sands’ rights to operate
starts first in larger centres.
Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
36 The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
“Hard Times Sold in Vending Machines,” continued from page 16 »
gonna come in contact with ment. there were two serious injuries was laughed at by instructors
fairly frequently. These kinds of at his worksite: a structural steel and workers alike during one
things are very unhealthy; they According to WCB statis- worker injured both heels after of his training courses. He also
even [result in] birth defects," tics, the WCB accepted 29 a fall and a platefitter sustained believes that the long hours of
said Gaul. new claims for work-related facial cuts from a piece of steel. work, coupled with the boredom
Material Safety Data Sheets cancer and recognized 38 He believes that some contrac- of camp life, often leads to a
detailing information about the fatalities due to occupational tors deliberately undercount the general feeling of isolation.
various chemicals with which cancer in 2005. However, number of workplace injuries. "As far as the social
workers might come in contact the Alberta Cancer Board Fraser had difficulty atmosphere in the camps, it's
were "diligently provided" to estimates that eight per cent adjusting to life within the work not really the most healthy
workers, but Gaul says that of all cancers in Alberta are camps, which he says resembled environment. There's a lot of
workers are not given time to work-related. This means university dorms, aside from the negativity and built-up misery
read them. over 1,000 new cases of fact that they "basically look like being shared and communi-
work-related cancer are a bomb dropped [on them]." cated. There are a lot of people
Fraser had difficulty diagnosed and more than that are in the situation where
adjusting to life within 400 workers die of occupa- they're spending way too much
tional cancer each year.
“over 1,000 new time away from their family to
the work camps, which Fewer than one in 10 occu- cases of work-related have any kind of semblance of
he says resembled pational cancer fatalities are cancer are diagnosed regular family life."
university dorms, recognized by the WCB. It is likely due to these
aside from the fact that and more than "quality of life" issues that many
they “basically look In addition, Alberta 400 workers die of workers from Atlantic Canada
currently has one of the highest occupational cancer view their positions in Alberta
like a bomb dropped rates of workplace deaths in as being largely temporary.
[on them].” the country, and the number of each year” Fort McMurray, with its over-
workplace accidents reported whelming growth rate and its
Despite this, Gaul is quick in the province in 2006 was After work, there was little to do infrastructural inability to cope
to point out that his contractor 181,159–an increase of 7.4 per within the camps. with this growth, is an unlikely
instituted a "safety bonus" each cent from the previous year. "I've had problems with candidate for long-term settle-
hour for crews who maintained Stories of injuries and close- alcoholism and I just drank ment for Atlantic Canadian
the safety of all members. calls are not hard to come by. every night for five weeks." workers. East Coast workers,
Overall, however, he notes that George Marshall, a 26-year-old Fraser also had a number though perhaps as naive to the
rigging work is "a dangerous job PEI resident worked only a few of moral qualms with his work, hazards of the oil industry as
by nature." days in 2006 as a labourer but which he believes may have their predecessors were to the
The effects of such "almost died twice" on the job. contributed to his drinking. reality of life in Toronto in the
chemicals may appear long The first close call, according "Nobody ever thought 1970s, are by now no strangers
after a worker has left a job site. to Marshall, was on account about the environmental to moving to where the work
As pointed out in an April 2006 of a fall, while the second was impact," he says. "I had a lot of is. Many recognize the higher
column by Alberta Federation of due to "a piece of the rig [that] moral repression. I felt really cost of living in the West, as
Labour researcher Jason Foster, disconnected and came hurtling bad for what I was taking part well as the sky-high rate of
cancer caused by workplace toward me." in." inflation in Alberta and realize
exposure to chemicals like Jason Fraser, a 24-year- Gaul also points out that that their money will stretch
benzene are not recognized, nor old iron worker from Chester, few workers showed regard to further on the East Coast than
even recorded by the Alberta Nova Scotia, recently spent six the ethics and sustainability of it will in Alberta. Some, like
Workers' Compensation Board weeks working in Fort MacKay. the oil projects, and recalls that Anstey, see the abundance
(WCB) or the Alberta govern- During his last week on the job, the subject of climate change of Atlantic Canadians in the
Alberta oil patch as an interim
gig, as workers tide themselves
over in advance of the opening
of the Hibernia and Lower
Churchill Valley projects. These
mega-projects are likely to yield
their own environmental and
social impacts as well in the
years to come, as the East Coast
as a whole shifts its economy
towards the production of oil
and gas resources for export.
Still, many expect to one
day see a similar job boom in the
east, one that they believe might
break their diet of hard times
sold in vending machines.
Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 37
“Roughneck,” continued from page 22 »
behind and clean up after him.” along, however, she assumed hurt, and we’re sorry that she The ensuing reports, except for
According to Desharnais, she would receive some kind did.” the one she wrote herself, were
she was constantly at the head of warning that the detonation Desharnais sees something based mostly on the shooter’s
of her group and was in fact told, was about to go. more troubling. “There was a account of the incident and
along with one other colleague, “All of a sudden the constant diminishing of my downplayed the lack of training
to slow down so the others in explosion went off, with debris concerns,” she says. Deshar- she received and the lack of
her group could keep pace. And in the air. All I remember was nais feels that if she was a man communication on site. She still
while working as a trouble- being hit in the head and the perhaps her co-worker would has copies of the reports she
shooter or a shooter’s helper shoulder,” she says. While have paid more attention when refused to sign because of her
meant carrying less equipment, Menchuk says he was informed she said she had injured her disagreement on the facts.
it definitely wasn’t easier when she was 30m from the explosion head and not just her shoulder. It is clear that many may
it came either to cardio or to the (the required distance) and “They just seem to think you think that Desharnais’s com-
safety issues involved. “It was behind a tree, Desharnais complain for nothing.” plaints are simply sour grapes
clear that they wanted to put me says she can’t really be sure Menchuk agrees that it is because she was hurt on the
in a difficult position,” she said. how far she was because she not always easy for women in job. Menchuk claims he isn’t
The job of a shooter is to was never signaled where the the oil industry. “It’s both the sure why Desharnais is still
detonate underground explo- explosion was coming from. work and the atmosphere,” pursuing the matter. “We
sives sending out seismic waves Upon returning to find her, her he says. “You’re sending out treated her the way we would
to see if there are gas or oil colleague radioed in that she a woman with a crew of 50 treat any employee. She decided
deposits; a shooter’s helper is had been injured. “But he would other guys. Issues come up, to quit her modified work load
a kind of a sidekick, helping to only say I had hurt my shoulder, things like separate bathrooms [an office job in Calgary given to
set up the area, and clear away and not that I thought I was hit and you need to share with the her at full pay after her injury]
the wires after the explosion. in the head. He told me the cooking crew because there are and go back to Grand Cache to
Desharnais was assigned as a blood on my neck was just from only three toilets on site.” try and convince her supervi-
shooter’s helper in the morning, scratching it on branches when Diagnosed with a sprained sors to change their reports.
and, according to her, not given I fell,” she says. shoulder and receiving five We’re sorry for what happened,
proper training except for one “Even I didn’t really know stiches to the back of her head, but there isn’t much we can do
colleague who offered her some the extent of my injuries until it was unclear for three days, now.”
advice on what equipment to I got into the helicopter, but I before she was able to return In an industry that is
bring. According to Menchuk knew I had hurt my head,” she to Calgary, whether she had continuing to grow in Canada,
all employees receive interna- continues. “It was only once I a concussion. While she was Desharnais feels stories like
tionally recognised training at saw the look of the pilot when X-rayed in Grand Cache, there hers need to get out. It isn’t
the beginning of their employ- I took off my helmet in the wasn’t a head trauma expert at about the fact that the work is
ment and are updated in the helicopter and the blood started the hospital who could tell her hard, she says, or even so much
field. While he wasn’t on the going everywhere.” The impact the extent of her injuries. that she got hurt–even though
ground in Grand Cache, he says of the collision with the rock Desharnais’ troubles didn’t she still suffers from headaches
he couldn’t imagine someone had cracked part of her helmet end with the injuries. According and concentration problems
being sent out without proper and cut her head badly enough to Menchuk, Desharnais from her concussion and has
training. that she would need five stitches “declined” to go back out to the mobility problems with her
“We always ensure our once back at the base-camp, and site when safety personnel went right shoulder. It’s about the
employees wear the proper would eventually be diagnosed with her partner to examine the fact she wasn’t properly trained
safety equipment. Safety with a severe concussion. “When area in order to file an incident and her safety wasn’t ensured in
equipment doesn’t eliminate we got back to base-camp, the report. Desharnais remembers the field, and that in large part
hazards, but it reduces them medic even said that if he knew it differently. “They asked if I she believes this was because
as much as possible.” Attempts I had injured my head he would wanted to go with them, and I she is a woman. “I may keep
were made to contact Deshar- have flown out to get me instead said yes. I wasn’t feeling well looking into this and talk to
nais’ on-site supervisor, but of waiting back at the camp.” [from her injuries] and went to lawyers. But really I just don’t
Menchuk said he is currently According to Menchuk, lie down. I found out later that want to see this happening to
out of the country and not the type of injury sustained by they had gone without me.” anyone else,” she says.
available for comment. Desharnais is rare in general,
According to Desharnais, and a first for a shooter’s
upon arriving on site her helper. (Desharnais disputes
partner, the shooter, had no this, saying she was told on
time to show her the ropes. After several occasions of shooters
being dropped off by helicopter and shooter’s helpers being
they walked half an hour into seriously injured on the job.)
the bush to the site where they “We do everything we can to
would be detonating explosives. ensure our employees’ safety,”
When one of their two walkie- he explained over the phone
talkies died, the functioning one from Calgary. “But as I tell
was given to her partner. She everyone, in the end you need to
stayed back while he went to lay be aware of your surroundings.
and detonate the explosives. All No one wanted Chantal to get
Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
38 The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Lubicon, continued from page 24 »
adjacent to proposed Lubicon barrel of oil produced. Most, River to power tar sands exploi- further degradation of the
reserve lands and surrounding if not all, of this water is taken tation, claiming that 70 per cent groundwater, increased toxic
two lakes upon which they rely out of the natural cycle and lost of their power output will go to emissions, further decimation
for fish. These companies plan forever. Where this huge volume fuel a major tar sands project in of fisheries and wildlife, more
to drill 512 "heavy oil" wells in of water will come from and the the region. roads, trucking, seismic lines
this sensitive area, ultimately environmental consequences This new tar sands boom and the spectre of nuclear waste
producing an estimated 820 of injecting it in to the fragile in the Peace River area has haunt their future.
million barrels of oil. boreal subsurface are unknown. the potential to be even more A better future is possible.
The 50,000 hectares of Some years ago, an experimen- damaging than the first wave The United Nations committee
tar-sands auctioned off while tal heavy oil/tar sands facility to of resource exploitation in the identified two easy steps towards
the Lubicons were at the UN the west of the Lubicons built a early 1980s. that future–negotiations and
were in addition to these prior pipeline to a neighboring lake to The Lubicon people consultation.
developments. And this year obtain the water they required. suffered the full environmen- But that would require that
another 15,500 hectares just Within a few months they had tal, economic, cultural, social Canadian governments listen
north of the proposed Lubicon drained the lake so far that it and health impacts of that first to the UN rather than openly
reserve lands have been sold to froze solid in the winter, killing wave of conventional oil and gas flaunting their rulings and
tar sands companies. all the fish. exploitation in their unceded selling off the very lands and
Liquefying the "heavy oil" Until recently, it was also territory. resources that are under dispute
so it can be pumped out of the unclear how the huge energy With a new wave of even even as the UN is hearing the
ground is done with super- needs of this process could be more damaging resource matter.
heated water or steam and sustained by the companies in exploitation arriving at their
typically requires that three to the area. Now a new company doorstep, the Lubicon people Kevin Thomas is the Chief
six barrels of water be injected has announced plans to build are bracing for the worst. Negotiator for the Lubicon
into the subsurface for each a nuclear reactor near Peace Reckless water use, oil spills, Lake Indian Nation
“What in Tar Nation,” continued from page 21 »
noise. He’s got it; he should hear. He seems to agree with his what can you do?” He exhales, he says, “You know, maybe I
start something. “I buy all my entire body. On-screen Celina leans back in resignation and will get some guys together and
food in the store. I don’t touch says: “Once they take all the oil pats his daughter’s head. I can start something.” He sits up
any wild meat,” he says. “Would out of this place, what are our see him thinking and I hear straighter. We shake hands to
you eat a fish with puss all over kids going to live on? You can’t his outrage shifting back into say goodbye. When the door is
it?” When we ask if he drinks drink oil. You can’t eat money.” motion by the sound of his closed I lose sight of everything
the water, he nods, solemnly. “She knows what she’s breathing and the grinding of his but Billy and his daughter and
“My baby bathes in it.” talking about,” he says when jaw. He continues to stroke his a sad part of me wants him to
The fish plant in Fort Chip, it’s over, shaking his head. “But daughter’s hair. After a while, leave while he can.
not surprisingly, has gone
straight downhill in the last 10 Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
years. But the biggest problem,
according to one employee, is
the lack of fishermen. Appar-
ently the government is making
it harder and harder to get a
fishing license. People can’t
afford to fish, and so they don’t.
Many believe that this is a gov-
ernment tactic to keep the actual
number of sick fish quiet.
Billy invites us to sleep at
his house and we meet his wife
and three-year-old daughter.
He is generous with his home
and his food and insists that we
help ourselves to anything, that
when he visits Montreal he will
expect the same.
In the morning Billy seems
to have lost some steam. He
seems dejected and less eager
to talk about the tar sands.
But when we show him a video
interview with Celina he pulls
his chair up close and leans in to
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Labour 39
Piles of bitumen near Syncrude’s tailing pond, which is contained by the world’s largest man-made dam by volume. Dru Oja Jay
The Christian Labour Association of Canada
by Stuart Neatby 1952 by Dutch immigrants, employers. Under voluntary most labour relations rules
largely members of the recognition, according to AFL in construction and allowed
Few subjects inspire more Christian Reformed Church President Gil McGowan, CLAC the CNRL to negotiate almost
ire within the Canadian labour who were disgruntled with the locals often organize within exclusively with CLAC. CLAC,
movement than the Christian Canadian Labour Congress and workplaces “with the full co- in turn, has supported the rapid
Labour Association of Canada its member unions. Most of operation of the boss.” The AFL expansion of the Temporary
(CLAC). its locals remained in Ontario believes that CLAC has been Foreign Worker program on
CLAC's website presents the until CLAC won a breakthrough used by employers to depress this site, which has resulted in
organization as an alternative to campaign to represent 2,500 wages and discourage workplace a rapid influx of thousands of
the “adversarial” relationship of workers at the Save-On Foods disruption. About one in five of migrant workers. The AFL and
other unions with employers grocery chain throughout CLAC's locals have been certified the Alberta Building Trades
favouring a more “co-operative Alberta, through voluntary under voluntary recognition. Council claim that the 'special
approach to labour-manage- recognition by the employer. By In addition, CLAC has been status' of the project is an open
ment relations.” Although the mid-1980s, CLAC had begun criticized for its unwillingness attack upon organized Labour
apparently not a Christian orga- moving into the construction to support employment and pay in the province and is a direct
nization, CLAC's approach to sector. They currently have 11 equity legislation, which they attempt to depress wages and
workplace organization is based regional offices, 150 full-time claim “undermine the founda- working conditions on-site,
upon the “Christian social prin- staff members and a member- tions of such institutions as through the exploitation of
ciples of dignity and respect for ship of 43,000. marriage and the family." temporary foreign workers.
all people.” This “non-confron- CLAC has been roundly Most recently, CLAC played
tational” approach is evident in criticized as being a “company a key role during negotiations for
CLAC's background; over the union.” The Alberta Federation the Canadian Natural Resources For Stuart Neatby’s timeline
past 30 years, CLAC members of Labour (AFL) website criti- Ltd's (CNRL) Horizon Project, of the 2007 wildcat strikes
have been engaged in only four cizes CLAC's close relationship one of the biggest projects of the and other online-only
strikes, the most recent of which with management and questions Athabasca tar sands. The Klein features, visit
(in 2002)lasted two hours. the high rate of 'voluntary government granted this project www.dominionpaper.ca/tarsands
CLAC was established in recognition' of CLAC locals by 'special status,' which exempted
40 Visuals The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Syncrude upgrader plant, offices (foreground), sulphur stockpiles (back left) and tailing pond (back right). Dru Oja Jay
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 Visuals 41
Syncrude tailing “pond” (foreground), a few hundred metres from the Athabasca River. Dru Oja Jay
42 The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
Temporary Foreign Workers, continued from page 5 »
construction projects including employer’s responsibility to find
in the tar sands. The MOU the employee housing. Foster
also allows employers to enter claims that this too is done with
into an agreement-in-principle minimal concern or respect for
with HRSDC that will facilitate the well-being of the workers.
and speed up the processing of He cites an example of 12 Indo-
Labour Market Opinion appli- Italians brought in by a trucking
cations. company who were put up in a
A “Regional Occupations three-bedroom bungalow and
under Pressures List” was estab- charged $500 per month in
lished for Alberta, which speeds rent.
up the application process “If you are an employer and
for hiring temporary foreign you can hire a worker where you
workers in certain occupations. can get half of the wages back on
The lengthy list includes many rent, that’s a bonus...They find
occupations that would be these ways to nickle and dime
required for tar sands projects, them. There are guys that come
such as construction managers, here, work here for six months, have six months to pass an for hiring foreign workers.
electricians and heavy-duty then go home without having exam, part of which is practical, “I’ll give some credence
equipment mechanics, but also earned a penny.” the other part being written. to those statements [of labour
food and beverage servers, I ask Foster whether the Foster says they usually fail shortages], but I don’t think
cashiers and even funeral TFWs encounter racism and the written part and excel at they’re all-encompassing.
directors and embalmers. whether they are successful at the practical component. Since For example, if we look at the
“They [the companies] integrating into their new com- the TFWs can work during the demographics of our First
came up with a pretty interest- munities. six months leading up to their Nations people in Western
ing method of justifying the “They’re not and that’s by test, employers generally do Canada, if we look at the non-
access to the program. They the design of the employers,” he not concern themselves with traditional, at women, at people
would have job fairs, in my view answers. helping them pass the test, since with disabilities, there is a huge
very poorly advertised, in weird Foster details how the TFW they can easily replace them pool of workers that we’re not
timing and weird locations and are picked up by a representa- with a new batch of workers. attempting to reach out to,”
nobody would come. That’s one tive of the employer, driven to “They don’t want to invest says MacNeil.
of the major hoops that they a camp exclusively for TFW in training, they don’t want to “There is a shortage, we
would dance through,” says and that is the last that anyone increase their wages. It really is don’t dispute that. It’s just a
MacNeil. sees of them. Immigrant service a case of disposable workers.” matter of the degree of the
Temporary Foreign agencies, he says, are forbidden All involved agree that shortage and the solutions of the
Workers are guaranteed a set under their funding arrange- there exists a wide range in problem. We don’t think that
number of work days as stipu- ments with the government to the ways that companies treat the Temporary Foreign Worker
lated under the terms of their serve TFWs. So if they come their workers, and that not Program is a real solution. We
work permits. If a worker loses looking for language classes or all companies resort to using think it’s short-sighted and it’s
his job, or leaves it voluntarily, information on how to set up a TFWs. The basic existence of a ineffective. We believe there
he may choose to seek employ- bank account, the agencies have labour shortage is another point are many other ways to go and
ment elsewhere. According to turn them away or risk losing of general agreement. However, it should certainly be the last of
to Byl, this is not always as their funding. the extent and the cause of the the last choices.”
straightforward as it may seem. I ask him about creden- shortage remains up for debate,
“If you’re not working, tials. He explains that workers as does its use as a justification with files from Stuart Neatby
it’s a minimum of four to five
months wait, up to a maximum
of eight months, to go through
the process of obtaining new
paperwork, including a new
Labour Market Opinion. The
lack of unemployment provi-
sions drives people under-
ground.
“Without a job and without
employment insurance, workers
can’t very well just sit around
until they are able to legally
work again. Instead, they work
underground for less pay, or
they go home.”
When an employer brings
in a worker, it is also the Katie Beaton
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 43
Upgraders, continued from page 11 »
upgrader construction is linked bitumen, however, is still wrestling of oil from tar sands, is full,” the city’s mayor recently
to the fact that what comes out upgraded in the United States– while capturing only a small told a parliamentary committee.
of the tar sands is not in fact oil where the vast majority is also fraction of the profits. Greater Is this what Fort Saskatchewan
or tar, but bitumen, a low-grade, refined, sold, and consumed. involvement in the value-added has to look forward to?
heavy fossil fuel. Upgrading is Alberta politicians have process of upgrading would “What we’re facing is
the process by which the thick, been calling for a dramatic increase the public’s economic a huge expansion to roads,
tarry muck is turned into a ramping-up of the province’s return, but it would concentrate infrastructure, sewer systems,
synthetic crude oil that can be upgrading capacities. “If we even more of the pollution in water systems, bridges. How is
sent to refineries. This extra insist on just sending raw Alberta. that going to be paid?” asked
step is part of what makes the product out of this province and There is also the possibility Edmonton mayor Stephen
production of oil from tar sands adding value to that product in that the upgrader boom could Mandel in 2006. He estimated
so energy-intensive, with green- another jurisdiction, the taxes overwhelm Fort Saskatchewan that the money invested in the
house gas emissions three times on the value-added product and other towns in the area, in last five years in Fort McMurray
higher than those associated will be paid in that jurisdiction, much the same way that Fort pales in comparison to what is
with conventional oil produc- not in the province of Alberta,” McMurray–epicentre of the tar proposed for the “Industrial
tion. More natural gas is eaten Premier Stalmach told reporters sands extraction operations–is Heartland.”
up by bitumen upgrading than last December. Energy minister already overwhelmed by For now, the protests of
by the mining process itself. Mel Knight has been quick to economic growth that most Kathy Radke and the handful of
Some of the upgrading reassure the public that Alberta locals say is too big, too fast. other residents directly affected
happens in Alberta’s north, should have the capacity to The growing pains experienced by the upgraders are largely
where the bitumen is extracted. upgrade about 80 per cent of its by Fort McMurray include overshadowed by the spectre
But with its lower costs and bitumen within a decade or so. rocketing housing costs, a of jobs and money rushing
easier access to workers, the Albertans face a paradox. homelessness crisis and a severe into the region. But if things
industrial region northeast With the havoc created by the shortage of health care and other go the way of Fort McMurray,
of Edmonton has become the mining and in-situ extraction services. “Our water treatment it won’t be long until all of the
place of choice for upgraders in of bitumen from the tar sands, plant will be at capacity next area’s residents experience the
the province. they already shoulder the brunt year. Our recreational facilities ugly side of Alberta’s bitumen
The bulk of Alberta’s of the pollution created by the are overtaxed. Our landfill site boom.
“Tar Sands and the American Automobile,” continued from page 4 »
that will increase emissions of increase to 1.25 billion cubic dollars projected in oil sands proposed Mackenzie Valley
carbon dioxide.” Rather than feet daily by 2016. The process investments between 2006 and natural gas pipeline, which, if
deter exploration, rising prices is so inefficient that the natural 2016, the industry is looking built, would ship natural gas
have led to increasingly uncon- gas required to produce one for a long-term, cost-effective almost exclusively for use in
ventional and hazardous oil barrel of tar sands oil could energy source. High natural northern Alberta oil extraction.
exploration exemplified by the heat a family home for two to gas costs have the tar sands The natural gas pipeline
Alberta tar sands. four days. This process uses a companies thinking big and seems almost benign compared
The tremendous energy relatively clean fuel to assist looking north. to some of the ideas being floated
required to bring the sand to in the production of a dirtier Not everyone is happy by some oil companies who are
the surface for separation is one, prompting oil analyst about this increasingly sticky described in the National Post as
largely provided by natural gas. Matt Simmons to describe the situation. “Don’t ruin our “warming to the idea of nuclear
Oil sands consume about 500 process as “making gold into land to fuel the US gas tank,” power as a source for their
million cubic feet of natural lead.” demanded Grand Chief of the massive energy needs.” This is
gas a day, an amount likely to With over a hundred billion Dehcho in response to the not the first time nuclear power
has been proposed to liberate
crude oil from the tar sands. In
1959 California's Richfield Oil
drew a plan approved by the
US Atomic Energy Commission
to separate bitumen from sand
by detonating a nine-kiloton
atomic bomb. It was argued
that the heat and energy created
by an underground explosion
would free the oil from the sand,
but after the success of initial
tests in Nevada, the idea was
shelved due to concern among
Canadian officials over the use
of the A-bomb.
Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
44 The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
“Impacting Unimpaired,” continued from page 27 »
million barrels per day. promote nuclear power for the mobility’ and allowing non- The truly daunting reality
The United States has reor- Peace Region, where Sag-D has citizen workers to be exploited is that the production level
ganized their long-term plans barely even begun to operate. at rates currently unreported. being proposed will have no
for petroleum energy by setting other option: the only way to
a goal to get up to 25 per cent keep up with projected produc-
of their daily oil from tar sands tion rates is to bring in people
based operations (in addition from outside.
to Canada’s conventional oil). The guest worker programs
In 2003, the US Department keep non-status workers in
of Energy began declaring tar camps where they are not
sands reserves part of their allowed visitations by any
calculation of oil imported union. The only means by which
from Canada. This will include such a “guest” will be allowed to
massive pipeline construction stay beyond the term of their
across territories within British contract (up to 24 months) is
Columbia, made nearly impos- if the employer applies, not the
sible to block by TILMA. individual. Figures on pay and
The SPP is setting the stage to whom it is delivered are not
for the creation of a series of available and have not yet been
“super highways” that may obtained by organized labour in
extend from as far as Panama Alberta–we simply do not know
City north to Edmonton and how much migrant workers in
branching off to the three “hot the tar sands are being paid.
spots” of the Albertan Peace The “guest workers” may
and Athabasca Regions and not end up only in the camps.
northeast British Columbia. The proposed size of tar sands
Along with the reduction expansion is such that con-
in labour rights across both structing infrastructure for vast
provinces through TILMA, the new energy “inputs” will take
SPP will provide much-needed thousands of workers as well.
labour through the expansion of Two pipelines of various gas are
the “temporary foreign workers” needed “in” to the tar sands for
program. The growth of every pipeline going “out.”
Alberta’s economy has already The energy needed to go
exceeded the available popula- into the tar sands are slated to
tion of workers. Workers from www.oilsandstruth.org/maps come from the natural gas in
the Maritimes are paid to fly to such places as Alaska’s north
Fort McMurray from Moncton, The two maps included The Alberta Federation of slope, coal-fired mega plants
Halifax or St. John’s and work show the plans for this vast Labour points out that 2006 in Alberta, proposed nuclear
in camps in the tar sands. expansion, both in terms of the was the first year that the reactors in the Peace Region
The energy needs of pro- importing of labour by highway number of people admitted and near Whitecourt, along
duction in the tar sands pro- and the construction of needed into Alberta who were not even with the industrialization of the
cess–whether the strip-mining energy supplies by pipeline to allowed to apply to become Mackenzie Valley (and much
operations or the “in-situ” get to the planned five million landed immigrants (let alone more). The outward shipping
underground “Steam-assisted bpd. citizens) exceeded the number of bitumen-sludge (later
gravity Drainage” (Sag-D) The first one shows the flow of new immigrants. With agree- converted to mock oil) entails
procedure–are equal to almost of goods and labour. The aim ments like the SPP in place, corridors across Saskatchewan
a third of what is produced. of TILMA and the SPP is the this will increase sharply. With and Manitoba, the Dakotas,
(For comparison purposes, the immediate creation of far more TILMA, every time a labour Nebraska, Kansas and more, all
crude in Iraqi reserves produces labour inflow from places such right is undermined, it becomes the way to Texas and Louisiana.
about 100 times the energy that as Mexico and China, most of it the new bottom line. These schemes, in particular
is needed to pump it out.) Sag-D ultimately destined to work in According to Gil McGowan the one known as the Keystone
consumes more energy and the tar sands. Canadian Natural of the Alberta Federation of Pipeline headed by TransCan-
water than strip-mining opera- Resources Limited (CNRL) Labour, “Employers are using ada, is already causing the AFL
tions, setting the stage for the began using 500 Chinese temporary foreign workers as to warn of dire consequences
requisite equivalent of four to labourers on a “guest worker” a way to suppress wages and for job loss and deregulation
five billion cubic feet of natural program at their Horizons working conditions and to avoid of currently union-run opera-
gas per day required in tar sands Oilsands Project last year. The legitimate unions...we oppose tions.
operations if they become fully SPP is a cost-effective means of the importation of hundreds of The other corridor for
operational. importing needed labour and workers just to complete a job sending sludge to refineries
This reality is what is keeping costs down at the same and then sending them back is slated to be across British
leading Energy Alberta to time, through enacting ‘labour home. That is exploitation.” Columbia, over the lands of
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 45
the Carrier, Gixtsan, Haisla, was announced. The map export growth to make the West climate emissions, the second-
Tsimshian and other unceded shows only some of the refiner- Coast of Canada a major hub of fastest rate of deforestation
nations to a yet-to-be-con- ies planning to receive tar sands de-regulated trade with Asia. on earth, the dismantling of
structed port to operate out bitumen. It could soon be illegal previously won workers’ rights,
of Kitimat, where oil could Under the Alberta Energy and not merely politically a sacrifice area in Alberta the
theoretically be shipped to and Utilities Board, every single size of Florida and the removal
California, Japan and China. project in the Athabasca, Cold of meaningful democratic
Lake and Peace River tar sands
“The primary oversight at the community
region has been approved. legacy of the project level.
“We simply do TILMA will streamline the regu-
lations in line with these projects
will be run-away The usual critiques of the
SPP and TILMA are not inaccu-
climate emissions,
not know how across all of B.C. and Alberta. It
will also mean the elimination
rate. Placing new developments
in a global context, however,
the second fastest
of a long-time moratorium on changes our understanding of
much migrant oil and gas offshore tankers on rate of deforestation what is driving this latest set
the central coast of B.C. on earth, the of deals. Instability around
workers in the Kitimat and Gitamaat
dismantling of
the planet, dwindling reserves
Village, currently host to major of oil, a collapsing American
tar sands are Gray and Humpback whale
migration, would see 330 super
previously won dollar and more are exposing
imperial economic structures
tankers of oil and gas a year workers’ rights, a to a level of insecurity unknown
being paid.” migrating offshore, according to strip-mine in Alberta in a generation. By lurching
the Dogwood Initiative. Nations headlong in 2003 towards the
up and down the proposed the size of Florida Albertan tar sands, the US has
The same port would serve to
import “diluent” from Russia, a
corridor would see a loss of and the removal made the rising price of oil work
forest cover in areas where to their advantage, rather than
kerosene-like substance used to
giant grizzlies still roam near of meaningful its opposite; when the price of
make the thick mud of bitumen
flow like oil in a pipe.
ranchlands. democratic oversight oil goes up, those who invest
The oil and gas going to heavily in expensive, unconven-
“Pipeline ruptures happen,
and from the tar sands would at the community tional oil gain a larger foothold
they’re inevitable,” says Gerald
Amos of the Haisla Nation from
cross rivers and streams and the level.” in market share.
tankers will come near 1,000 The SPP and TILMA have
Gitamaat Village on the Coast
salmon spawning areas. Upon difficult to regulate how these been drawn up to increase
of B.C., where the construction
completion, the entire 1,200- constructions go ahead. Envi- and integrate this into a
of a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)
plus kilometre pipeline systems ronmental regulation, revenue decades-long strategy for North
port is being planned.
would provide 75 full-time for nations who approve the American economic stability, a
“We just don’t know the
jobs. Enbridge has quietly use of their lands, taxation for strategy that does not address
location yet...All of the propo-
shifted gears towards building reclamation purposes, require- our dependence on oil. Under-
nents of the Gateway project
the infrastructure to send the ments on unionization for the standing the true nature of these
and all the other pipelines
current bump in oil production construction–all of these things plans allows people to make
which would mean more tanker
to Texas, promising to complete are being legislated and signed informed decisions about what
traffic here point out that we’ve
this project at a later date. away. to do during the rapid changes
had tanker traffic here, big
That later date may well With TILMA, Alberta and in energy politics–changes that
ships coming in for about 40 to
coincide with the B.C. govern- B.C. have united to ensure that will affect the entire popula-
50 years now. I think you are
ment’s other “Pacific Gateway the oil dug out of the earth is tion of North America (and the
talking about a substantially
Strategy,” designed to use sent south, at an incomprehen- planet) for decades to come.
different ball game when you
TILMA, the SPP, the 2010 sible rate. The primary legacy
talk about supertankers.”
Olympics and vast tar sands of the project will be run-away
This project, the “Enbridge
Gateway,” is currently delayed
due to lawsuits launched by
seven First Nations, Indian Act-
mandated governments and
the China National Petroleum
Company’s withdrawal from the
project.
Other pipelines heading
southward are the Alberta
Clipper Project and the
Spearhead Expansion Project,
also led by Enbridge, a self-
described “leader in energy
transportation.” In June of this
year, the first new refinery in
the United States in decades Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
46 The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007
“Can Pew’s Charity be Trusted,” continued from page 28 »
the willingness of some corpo- ForestEthics celebrated a major
Boreal Forest Network • Center for Science in Public
rations to embrace “sustainable agreement for the preservation
Participation • CPAWS • Ducks Unlimited • David Suzuki Foundation
practices,” and the trend among • Ecotrust Canada • Fondation de la faune • Forest Ethics • Forest of the Great Bear Rainforest.
conservationists to protect Stewardship Council of Canada • Global Forest Watch • Manitoba A year later, however, logging
entire areas instead of chasing Wildlands • Miningwatch • Nature Canada • Nature Conservancy companies have ramped up
biodiversity “hotspots”. of Canada • Nature Quebec • Northwatch • Ontario Nature • clearcut logging to levels that
“It’s one thing to walk in Pembina Institute • Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland are “unprecedented in 15
as an environmental group” & Labrador • Reseau Quebecois Groups des Ecologistes • years,” in order to gather as
and speak to policymakers, Saskatchewan Environmental Society • Sierra Legal Defense Fund much timber as possible before
• Silva Forest Foundation • SNAP • The Sustainability Network •
says Innes, “and another thing the agreement takes effect in
The Wild Foundation • Western Canada Wilderness Committee •
to walk in as an environmental Western Newfoundland Model Forest • Wildlands League • Wildlife 2009. To make matters worse,
group, shoulder to shoulder Conservation Society • World Wildlife Fund • “ecosystem-based manage-
with First Nations and industry Yukon Conservation Society ment” techniques named in
representatives and saying, the agreement have yet to be
‘we’ve got a solution.’” Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation • Bloodvein First Nation • defined. Meanwhile, environ-
The CBI is “pretty up-front Carrier Sekani Tribal Council • Centre for Indigenous Environmental mental groups agreed to stop
about wanting to protect at least Resources • Dehcho First Nations • Grassy Narrows First Nation • the direct action campaign that
Innu Nation • Kaska Dena Council • Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
half of Canada’s boreal, and do had previously halted logging,
First Nation • Little Grand Rapids First Nation • Little Red River Cree
responsible management where First Nation • Lutsel’ke Dene First Nation • Moose Cree First Nation • enabling the sped-up clearcut-
development is going to occur,” Mistissini Cree First Nation • National Aboriginal Forestry Association ting to continue unimpeded.
says Innes. • Nishnawbe Aski Nation • Pauingassi First Nation • Poplar River “We’ve found organized,
It’s this industry-friendly First Nation • Prince Albert Grand Council • Treaty 8 First Nations of institutional environmentalism
approach to conservation that Alberta • Treaty 8 Tribal Association (BC) • West Moberly First Nation has failed over the last four years
many activists object to. The to accomplish anything,” Nuxalk
problem with the consensus- Groups in Canada that have received money from the Pew hereditary chief Qwatsinas told
building approach, critics say, Charitable Trusts via the Canadian Boreal Initiative (CBI), the Dominion earlier this year.
is that avoiding conflict with according to CBI director Larry Innes. “The successes have come from
corporations means that the individual grassroots efforts
fundamental problems with because they are not controver- one of the Pew Trusts made that have basically bypassed
mining or logging that provoked sial.” $205 million in “investment the entrenched, bureaucratic,
popular resistance in the first In his 1996 book Washing- income” in 1993 from invest- environmental institutions
place are not addressed. ton Babylon, US-based author ments in companies like Wey- that have been sucking up the
“In the 1970s and 1980s a Alex Cockburn noted that “the erhaeuser, International Paper, enviro-buck and just not getting
vibrant, truly grassroots public Pew Trusts’ endowment is and Atlantic Richfield. Cockburn the kind of accomplishments we
land protection movement wisely invested in the very cor- notes that at the time this was need.”
emerged–first in the West and porations that a vigorous envi- “six times as large as all of Pew’s Cizek agrees. “In the US,”
then nation-wide,” writes Felice ronmental movement would environmental dispensations.” he says, “it has been pointed out
Pace of Oregon’s Ancient Forest adamantly be opposing.” Today, however, Pew is report- that the organizations that are
Campaign in a 2004 article. “In its initial National Forest edly not as heavily invested in taking a principled stand are
“During the 1990s Pew, with Campaign, Pew demanded resources extraction. the community organizations,
support from other foundations, that recipients of grant money A more recent attempt at the ones whose neighbourhoods
moved decisively to control this agree to focus their attention on co-operation between industry, are being destroyed.” The “Big
movement.” government actions; corporate First Nations and environ- Greens,” says Cizek, often serve
“Pew favors concentrating wrongdoers were not to be mentalists in British Columbia to tell local groups that they’re
on ‘low hanging fruit,’” writes named. This extreme plan was has recently drawn the ire of asking the impossible, but when
Pace. “That is, wilderness areas modified after some recipients grassroots activists. In 2006, proven wrong, take credit for
which local congressmen and balked.” Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Rain- their achievements.
senators are eager to support Cockburn writes that just forest Action Network and “And they often win the
biggest victories.”
“Victories,” says Cizek, “will
not be achieved in Washington,
DC, or in Ottawa. They will be
achieved on the front lines. The
people on the front lines are
the ones who are under attack
directly. They’re not policy
wonks trying to figure out what
public opinion will tolerate. For
them, it’s a matter of survival, in
many cases it’s a matter of life
or death.”
When discussing the tar
Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
The Dominion, Tar Sands Issue— Issue #48, Autumn 2007 47
sands, Cizek says that the top to manage their dissent into projects like the tar sands and The CBI’s Larry Innes says
groups receiving CBI funding appropriate channels, so that the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. that the issue of accountability
have been extremely timid. the industries maintain their But he emphasizes that is “an interesting question.” His
CPAWS, WWF, Pembina, the right to operate.” “it’s not about quibbling about response to it is candid.
Sierra Club and others signed a Sierra Club’s Lindsay Telfer calling for a moratorium or a “We’re accountable to
statement calling for a “carbon says that too much time is spent shut down,” but “what were the those people who write us a
neutral” tar sands by 2020 denouncing others within envi- processes by which you came to cheque every year,” says Innes.
through the purchase of “carbon ronmental and social justice this point, and how might your “If we don’t achieve the kind of
offsets,” but said nothing about circles. “That’s something I’ve funders have influenced this goals that they’re interested in
slowing down or stopping tar always found frustrating– decision? What do they actually spending their money on, the
sands development itself. A divisiveness,” says Telfer. “I’m expect to settle for?” funding stops.”
short time later, the Sierra Club more than supportive of other For Innes, “a more interest-
groups that call for more than ing question is why we need US
what the Sierra Club calls for.” “...the organizations funding at all. Why is the envi-
“In its initial Telfer also comes to the that are taking a ronmental movement in Canada
National Forest defense of those who call for
principled stand so small and poorly funded?
less. “I don’t buy into the Where is all the Canadian
Campaign, Pew arguments that CBI is all bad, are the community money? Why aren’t Canadian
demanded that that Pew is all bad,” says Telfer. organizations, philanthropists (with a few
recipients of grant “I try not to get involved in the
the ones whose
notable exceptions) investing
infighting.” She says she would in Canada’s environmental and
money agree to take money from the CBI in neighbourhoods are social justice movements?”
focus their attention the future if it fits the needs of
being destroyed...” Depending on which expla-
on government a particular campaign. “If we’re nation of foundation funding
fundraising for a project that has one finds more convincing, what
actions; corporate specific goals, I’ll take money “Do they actually believe in CBI is accountable for accom-
wrongdoers were not from people who support those this insane program of the tar plishing and why Canadians
goals,” though she adds that the sands becoming carbon neutral aren’t providing the same levels
to be named.” Sierra Club has strict standards by purchasing carbon offsets?” of funding to conservation-
concerning who it accepts he asks, referring to a statement ists will have very different
called for a moratorium on tar money from. signed by several groups before answers.
sands development. But it was Cizek sees a need for a Lougheed called for a morato-
only after arch-conservative “profound dialogue about the rium.
former Alberta Premier Peter democratic and non-democratic
Lougheed called for a morato- aspects of environmental orga-
rium that CPAWS and Pembina nizations.” Many environmen- Ed Stelmach doesn’t
followed suit. WWF Canada has tal organizations are private
remained silent, though its UK non-profits with few account- read the Dominion.
counterpart has recently called ability mechanisms. The WWF,
for a moratorium. for example, has only subscrib-
“To their utter embarass- ers, no members. The Pembina Find out what
ment, the Big Greens found Institute, he says, takes money
themselves trailing far behind directly from oil companies, to he’s missing.
the curve of public opinion,” which it sells carbon credits.
says Cizek, “and had to scramble The Sierra Club is “one of the
to catch up.” But the morato- more democratic of these envi- Subscribe today.
rium on new developments, ronmental organizations,” he
according to Cizek, still does not says, and that is “perhaps why
address the damage that will be they were able to initially take www.dominionpaper.ca/subscribe
done to the water and land by a more principled stand” on
operations that have already
been approved.
CPAWS did not respond
to an interview request, and a
WWF representative declined
to be interviewed.
“This is a very high-level
political process that’s going
on,” he adds. “This is about
cutting closed back-room deals
at the very political top, and
allowing the environmentalists
to achieve some concessions
through dealings at the political Katie Beaton, www.katebeaton.com
Everyone’s Downstream
Tar Sands Realities and Resistance
Conference: Nov 24-25, 2007
University of Alberta, Edmonton
w w w. o i l s a n d s t r u t h . o r g / co n f
A conference designed to explore the links between oppression and self-
determination on many levels: indigenous land rights, gender, ecological rights,
workers democracy, anti-racism and anti-border perspectives as they relate directly
to the tar sands of Northern Alberta. Speakers from a multitude of indigenous
nations, social justice groups, and environmental organizations will discuss the
social impacts of the tar sands on workers, women, indigenous nations, ecology,
migrant populations, homelessness, and the anti-war movement.
photo by Dru Oja Jay