West Coast Canada:
B.C. and Alberta’s ski hills opened early this year as the West Coast was hit by a huge snowfall this past week. Whistler opened its slopes to the public on Friday, Nov. 18, joining Cypress Mountain, which opened the previous week. Skiers camped out overnight to be the first to hit the slopes. Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, and Marmot Basin in the Albertan Rockies are also now open.
Source: cbc.ca
Western Canada:
The Obama administration announced on Nov. 10 that a new assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline route is necessary before making a decision on its construction. The pipeline would run from Alberta to Texas, spanning 2,700 kilometres, carrying Canadian oil to be refined in the United States. The reassessment will allow the final decision to be made sometime after the 2012 American presidential elections. TransCanada Corp, in response to widespread opposition in Nebraska concerning the pipeline and potential environmental effects, said that the pipeline can easily be rerouted in order to avoid the Sandhills and Ogallala aquifer. A final agreement was reached between Nebraska and TransCanada on Monday, Nov. 14.
Sources: bbc.co.uk, vancouversun.com
Northern Canada:
An agreement signed on Friday grants $100 million to the Labrador Innu over the next 30 years. This accord was in compensation for damages incurred by the Innu Nation from the Upper Churchill hydroelectric project, which began in the 1960s Many concerns regarding this deal, however, have been raised. Former Innu Nation President Katie Riche told the CBC that leaders must ensure that the money benefits the community and future generations by using it to reduce crime rates and address social issues.
Source:cbc.ca
East Coast Canada:
Over 600 people protested against hydro-fracking in Fredericton, New Brunswick on Saturday. Hydro-fracking is a process by which water, sand, and chemicals are injected into the ground, creating cracks in the shale rock underground, allowing natural gas to be released from areas otherwise unreachable. Protestors gathered to demonstrate against the controversial project, calling it unacceptable and claiming that the future health and environmental consequences of the process are unknown. Earlier this month, SWN Resources stated that an initial assessment showed extensive underground oil and natural gas in the region.
Source: cbc.ca
