Introduction
The Athabasca oil sands are the second largest producer of crude oil in the world, with a surface area of approximately 100 000 square kilometres (Anderson, Giesy & Wiseman, 2010). The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board estimates that the oil sands contains approximately 1.7 trillion barrels of crude bitumen, however only 19% can be ultimately recovered (Raynolds, Severson-Baker & Woynillowicz, 2005; Humphries, 2008). The availability of recoverable bitumen makes Canada’s oil sands deposit larger even than that of Saudi Arabia (Czarnecki, Hamza, Masliyah, Xu & Zhou, 2004).The process of surface and in situ mining of the Athabasca oil sands is causing rapid and significant degradation of the regional environment surrounding Fort McMurray and the Athabasca River. Production is expected to increase to three million barrels per day by 2015 from approximately 2 million currently (Humphries, 2008). This increase will further exacerbate the existing environmental impacts of crude oil production.
I am directing your attention today on your pending decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline. Your decision would approve or reject the TransCanada request to construct a 1,179 mile-long oil pipeline addition to the existing Oklahoma-Texas pipeline 0. The addition would pump bitumen oil from refineries in Canada to Oklahoma, and thus to Texas refineries (Eilperin, 1). In addition, the Keystone XL Pipeline has faced intense debate in support and opposition. Your decision will be impactful on future American-Canadian relations, as well as, the energy resource market. It is my position to consult you on major decisions as these, therefore, I advise that you reject the pipeline addition from Canada to Texas. My advice is stimulated by concerns for the environment, both nationally and globally and the lack of abundant economic contribution the pipeline will give the United States.
According to one government analysis, the crude from Canada’s oil sands will emit seventeen percent more greenhouse gas pollution than there processes used for conventional oil, making it even more controversial against environmentalists (Davenport par. 6). The concerns are reflected in great quantity of carbon in the tar sands, “Ensure that they will play an important role in whether or not climate change gets out of hand” (Clayton 2). In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) noticed the impact it would have on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the E.P.A., “The recent drop in global oil prices might mean that contraction of the pipeline vault spur increased development of Canadian oil sands—and thus increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions” (Davenport par
Tar Sands are a mixture of clay sand water and black oil that is found in various places in the world such as Venezuela and under the Canadian Forests. Most of the world’s oil currently comes from tar sands, and oil is used for gasoline. Mining of tar sands is quite tough and hard to do. The sands cannot be pumped in their natural state. It must be mined through open pit mining techniques. After mining the sands are transported to and extraction plant where a hot water process separates the bitumen from sand, water and minerals. This process releases the bitumen from the oil sands and causes tiny air bubbles to attach to the bitumen droplets that float to the top of the separation vessel, where the bitumen can be skimmed off. (Oil Shale and Tar Sands Program, 2012)
Peace River Country has a continental climate with a low precipitation rate that reduces the local humidity and causes the hot summer and a cold winter feeling (Churcher & Wilson, 1979, p.71). Moreover, it has a series of pollutions like notably air and water pollutions that are affected by pollutant-inducing resources in the province of Alberta. There is an abundance of petroleum and gas resources in Alberta. On the one hand, these valuable resources promote and supports the local economy and the country`s GDP; on the other hand, it damages the surrounding environment. Because the major resources in Alberta are gas and petroleum, and these kind of resources are non-renewable, and the result translates into bad air and water quality in the local region. Also, as one of the more populous provinces in Canada, Alberta maintains numerous industries and develops lots of tar sand, which is a kind of bituminous sand that is formed from oil. This toxic waste of oil sand creates more greenhouse gas emissions, e...
Woynillowicz, D.et al. Oil Sands Fever, the implications of Canada’s Oil Sands Rush. Pembina Institute Report. 2005, 66-69.
The Rise and Fall of the Nova Scotia Coal Industry
Coal mining has always been an important component of Nova Scotia's economy, landscape and culture. Together with cod fishing it was the primary export and employer for the regions population. With both industries now failing, the poor economic climate will no doubt have an effect on the population. This paper attempts to examine the economic conditions, market forces, and political maneuvering that gave rise to the coal industry in Nova Scotia as well as those contributing to its demise.
Coal Formation
The first stage in the formation of the fossil fuel we know as coal is large accumulations of organic matter, an anoxic environment, and large amounts of time.
"The Great Oil Pipeline Debate." CBC - TV News in Review March 2012. CBC, 2012. PDF.
What would your first thoughts be as the ruler of a country that found out that and estimated ¼ of the worlds oil supply was in its own back yard? Would your reaction be how it could financially help your country? Or would you think of how finding this oil could harm the environment, or furthermore the political aspects the oil may have. This is a struggle that Canada may have to face. The three main aspects of the oil struggle are the research, the reward, and the result. One question most people would over look in this situation is where would you start?
The majority of Canada’s population is centralized in Ontario and Quebec (Brander, 2014). A large share of the economic activity in these two provinces is related to manufacturing (Brander, 2014). Meanwhile, western provinces are more closely connected to resource-based industries, such as mining, energy, and forestry (Brander, 2014). Provinces within Canada manage and tax their own natural resources (Boadway, Coulombe, & Tremblay, 2013). Thus, the geography of Canada combined with the jurisdiction for natural resources poses a problem when attempting to combat the Dutch disease (Bimenyimana & Vallée, 2011). The resource boom is affecting two different parts of Canada (Bimenyimana & Vallée, 2011). Western provinces, specifically Alberta, are benefiting from the resource boom in the oil and gas industry (Bimenyimana & Vallée, 2011). Meanwhile, provinces with large manufacturing sectors, particularly Ontario and Quebec...