“A New Step Forward!” Quebec introduces draconian oil & gas bill to give companies more rights than property owners, Days later authorizes Petrolia Inc to frack Anticosti: “This resounding success on the regulatory front is essentially due to the work of Petrolia, accompanied by the experts at SNC-Lavalin….”

Petrolia Inc./Issuance of Certificate of Authorization for Anticosti: A New Step Forward! Press Release by Petrolia Inc., June 15, 2016

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC–(Marketwired – June 15, 2016) – This document corrects and replaces the press release that was sent on June 15, 2016 at 6:50 PM EDT.

Pétrolia (TSX VENTURE:PEA) is proud to see a new step forward in the Anticosti project. Pétrolia Anticosti, a subsidiary of Pétrolia Inc., which was appointed as operator by the partners of Anticosti Hydrocarbons L.P., is pleased to announce that the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MDDELCC) has issued all of the certificates of authorization necessary, including the permit for hydraulic fracking, in order to proceed with the exploration program contemplated by the agreements that led to the creation of Anticosti Hydrocarbons L.P.

It should be remembered that Pétrolia Anticosti was mandated by the Board of Directors of Anticosti Hydrocarbons to prepare the application for certificates of authorization, as well as all required documentation and studies relating thereto. In addition, it was responsible for monitoring the progress of the application with the appropriate authorities.

This resounding success on the regulatory front is essentially due to the work of Petrolia, accompanied by the experts at SNC-Lavalin for technical aspects. “As partner and operator since February 2014, we are particularly pleased to see the accomplishment of this important step. I would like to thank all those who were involved in one way or another in this process.” stated the President of Pétrolia, Alexandre Gagnon.

Pétrolia Anticosti emphasizes that, as has been the case in the past, the authorized work will be carried out in accordance with the highest industry standards relating to health, safety and respect for the environment. In addition, this exploration stage will be coordinated with the Anticosti community.

It is to be recalled that the work carried out on the Island in 2014 and 2015 provided employment for 90 individuals. Furthermore, thanks to the company’s buy local policy, $2.7 million was injected into the Island’s economy and $8.6 million into the economy of Eastern Québec. The upcoming work will allow for a clarification of the nature of the resource (i.e. the ratio of petrol/gas) and the confirmation of the economic potential for production. [Emphasis added]

Oil CEOs meet to plot new strategy as fissures within industry grow by Claudia Cattaneo, June 9, 2016, Financial Post

“In Calgary, there are only two kinds of companies,” Michael Binnion, president and CEO of Calgary-based Questerre Energy Corp, said. “Those going broke fast or those going broke slow.

At a private meeting at the Calgary Petroleum Club last Friday, 150 or so oil and gas CEOs and other business leaders met to discuss the future of Canadian energy. Most of the companies represented were small players. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the large industry association that is seen as being dominated by the largest companies, was not invited.

The general discussion was about frustration that Canadians are being played for fools by their own governments about the real potential and cost of renewable energy, leading to rushed decisions to transition away from hydrocarbons [Too funny!] and meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, without a fulsome and honest assessment of the consequences. [Breathable air? Pure foodlands and waterways sans dumping (legal and illegal) frac and other oilfield waste? Less cancer? Less contaminated water? Less law violations? Less bullying? Less fraud? Less greed? Less Corruption? Less damaged public infrastructure? Less captured, less fraudulent, less cover-up, more honest regulators? Less captured and law violating politicians? More honest elections? Less terrified and more empowered municipalities and counties? Savings of billions annually in taxpayer subsidies that can be returned to health care, education, renewable energy, infrastructure etc etc etc]

“Why are we only looking at the impacts of oil and gas, compared to the benefits of renewables?” asked Michael Binnion, the president and CEO of Calgary-based Questerre Energy Corp., who convened the meeting.

“We can talk about the benefits of renewables, but let’s also talk about the impacts,” he said in an interview. “Then we can have an adult conversation about our energy diet and how we can have more of the right energy in the right place.

“But get out of this polarized debate (that) renewables only have benefits and are good and clean energy, and (that) hydrocarbons only have impacts and are bad and are evil energy.”

Binnion said the approach worked in Quebec, which this week introduced a new hydrocarbon law that “is cautiously pro oil and gas development” despite years of opposition from the green lobby. He served as chairman of the Quebec Oil and Gas Association and worked hard to inform the debate [Lie?].

It can work elsewhere, where many decisions are being made that will impact Canadians for decades, such as regulatory approvals of pipelines and liquefied natural gas projects, and where there is a desperate need for a balanced discussion “before we throw the baby out with the bathwater,” he said.

The group is in the early stages of coming up with a strategy and building a network of like-minded people across Canada that could include banks, law firms, academia. [The oil and gas industry already controls the banks and academia and nearly all the law firms! What more do they want? All the law firms?] Details are sketchy because participants agreed to keep the discussions at the meeting confidential for now.

But many also worry about “intimidation” from government should the list of participants become public, said one CEO familiar with the initiative.

The effort is also a sign of the growing fissure between companies that are supporting governments achieve their climate change aspirations and those that do not and are worried about the consequences of environmental policy.

Four large oilsands companies — Suncor Energy Inc., Cenovus Energy Inc., Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., and Royal Dutch Shell PLC — cut a deal late last year with Alberta’s NDP government that led to a cap on oilsands emissions for the whole sector. The NDP has bragged their support is proof that its policies are embraced by the oilpatch. [Because the NDP’s cap plan is a scam, allowing for continued tarsands pollution grown for years, and promoting hydraulic fracturing as clean and green?]

In reality many see the policies as suicidal. The angst is deepest among smaller oil and gas companies and service providers struggling to stay alive after 18 months of devastatingly low oil prices and higher taxes, the latter about to get even higher thanks to a carbon tax law enthusiastically passed by Premier Rachel Notley this week.

“In Calgary, there are only two kinds of companies,” Binnion said. “Those going broke fast or those going broke slow. People are worried and afraid. If you are in the upstream business … you have to be worried about the fact that Western Canada, Alberta … might not be competitive world wide as we used to be.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall continues to demonstrate deeper understanding of the industry’s mood than the Alberta government. In Calgary this week, Wall said the oil and gas sector faces an “existential threat.” He also poured cold water on Ottawa introducing a national carbon tax, saying the timing is wrong during a downturn.

Many efforts to “change the conversation” were made in the past. They led to an even stronger pushback from the environmental movement, which in turn influenced governments. The only result so far from years of discussion by provinces on a national energy strategy is a pile of environmental policy.

CAPP led many initiatives to highlight the contribution of the energy sector. Given its large and diverse membership, the powerful lobby group is seen as having too many constraints to speak effectively, said another CEO who supports the new effort but asked not to be named.

“The industry not only responded too slowly, but responded in a non-constructive way,” the CEO said. “Its engagement is not what it needed to be.”

The push has the feel of a last gasp before Canada’s energy economy is damaged for good. The cracks are widening. Despite the rise in oil prices above US$50 a barrel this week, investment is expected to flow to the United States and elsewhere with lower political risk. [Emphasis added]

A few of the comments:

Leslie Anthony · Whistler, Canada
If i read this correctly, the CAPP’s laughable butterflies-and-rainbows energy propaganda, for which they pay huge sums to PR outfits like Hill & Knowlton, isn’t working because it has become increasingly difficult to usurp truth or ignore the realities of our planetary predicament. So now… these junior oil & gas rocket scientists think they have a better, cheaper plan for more rationale propaganda that will finally change the conversation to… to… to what? “Let’s wait a little longer to get off fossil fuels while those guys extract more obcene profits that they assure us will trickle down to everyone…”? Or how about “These guys are between a rock and a hard place so let’s let them off the hook for even the petty royalties they currently pay AND let’s not ask them to clean up the mess they make afterward either.” Nah. The more of these oil & gas bit players uninterested in moving their business model to renewables that go under the better.

Russell Turner · Works at Peanuts, Popcorn, Crackerjack
They worry about government intimidation. They want to keep their names secret, so government does not come after them. Investment goes to places with less political risk, meaning we have political risk. That describes a scary country, which should not be my Canada, but it now is.

Leslie Stanick · University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
The oil and gas industries are heavily subsidized in Canada. We also pay for the loss of fresh water, the rise in CO2 emissions, oil spills, rising temperatures, increase in medical issues such as asthma and emphysema. Who is paying for cleaning up the Athabasca River from toxic pollutants? Who pays for the water the Athabasca reserve has to truck in every month because their water supply has been contaminated by the Tar Sands? Who pays for the death of their salmon, which they have depended on for thousands of years? Who will pay for cleaning up the toxic waste zone that the Tar Sands have become? Who will pay for the court cases with China when their profits shrink from their investments in the Tar Sands under FIPA?

Who pays when pipelines leak into our freshwater lakes and streams? or migration routes for wildlife are cut off by pipelines that cross our nation? I want to see real investment in renewable energy so all children in Canada have a chance to grow up without massive flooding caused by CO2 induced climate change. I encourage you all to start reading the research on climate change. If you want to have grandchildren, you better start reducing fossil fuel extraction so they have a world they can breathe in.

Jeff King
the stone age didn’t end because of lack of stones… get over it…your planet poisoning operations are on route to a quick death….the masses are awakening to your lies and greed….and they have had enough of your dececeptions

Doug Farmer
John Suzuki – As more renewable energy sources replace fossil fuel ones it will be the consumers of our fossil fuel exports who will decide what their ethical standards are. It’s quite possible that within the next 20 to 30 years unrefined oil, if destined to used as an energy source, will become a boutique product and not something viewed and priced as a generic commodity like it is today. In fact this evolution is a certainty given that the growth in production of renewable energy is accelerating while the exploration for new fossil fuel deposits is slowing.

The writing is on the wall and the industry going all “Ezra” and behaving like a 5 year old who can’t get his way is silly. The world is changing, for the better, and Canada’s fossil fuel export industry MUST become Canada’s energy and energy-expertise export industry. New jobs are coming from the 21st century not from hanging on by tooth and nail to the 20th.

Sharon Curran
Ms Cattaneo, it is really interesting to consider the fissures in the oil and gas industries and, I can’t believe I am writing this, Shell is no longer in the Arctic and BP is expanding its interests in alternative energies; so, there is a dichotomy between energy companies and oil producers, and Canada has oil producers, only. That is a really scary situation when alternative energies are considered competition in a world with a dying climate. So, it doesn’t matter the cost, the world is getting off fossil fuels, it is happening fast and articles lamenting that reality rather than exploring the possibilities of other options is scary propaganda. The industry is dying, it is scary so many people are invested in denying that reality and scarier still Canada has so few options otherwise. I think the government should be careful with its endorsement of pipelines (Mr. Wall and other Premiers) as Mr. Trudeau tells the world Canada is back; if we’re still a polluting nation but saying otherwise our hypocrisy will begin to effect our brand, and those few industries we do have will begun to suffer, too.

Quebec Bill allows expropriation and fracking Partial Translation by Friends of the Richelieu, June 8, 2016, of Québec donne aux pétrolières le droit d’exproprier, L’importante Loi sur les hydrocarbures reprend des dispositions de la vieille Loi sur les mines, Le Devoir

With its first Law on hydrocarbons in Quebec’s history, the government gives important rights to companies who want to extract oil and natural gas. The bill presented Tuesday (June 7) will give companies the ownership of underground property with a permit and a right to expropriate to launch their projects of exploitation. The spirit of these dispositions comes from the Mining Law that came into effect more than a century ago. (…)

(…)the oil companies that hold an exploration or an exploitation permit will have a “right of access to the territory of the permit”. This permit will be valid for at least five years and could be renewed.

Once the exploration permit given out, the holder of the permit will simply have to inform the owner of the land and the municipality “within 30 days” after its registration in the public record. He will also have to get the authorization from the owner “at least 30 days” before he can access the territory and do the exploratory work, unless he chooses to negotiate an access right or the acquisition of the land.

Companies will have to put together a “monitoring committee” to “foster the involvement of the local community over the whole exploration project”. But it will be the companies that will choose the members of these committees and their numbers as per a process that they, the companies, will determine, but following certain rules put down by the government, like the obligation to name a majority of “independent” members from the company.

(…)

In other words, a landowner could accept exploration work, but if he refuses exploitation, he could be expropriated.

Same as for a landowner whose land would be part of a zone planned for an exploitation project that would imply horizontal drilling that would cross the land of an owner that would refuse a project, because Bill 106 gives the ownership of the subsurface to the companies.

(…)
This future legislation does not exclude operations of hydraulic fracturing.
(…)

1 comment:

Amie du RichelieuJune 8, 2016 at 8:31 AM

Yesterday, Quebec presented its “new” hydrocarbon Bill inspired by a century old Mining Law.

It gives the oil and gas industry the right to frack and to expropriate if need be.

Exploration rights are already given out to large swaths of densely populated and agricultural areas along the St. Lawrence Lowlands. If this Bill passes, we are all at risk here in Quebec. [Emphasis added]

[Refer also to:

2016: Anatomy of a Frack Ban: Canada Says Quebec’s No Drilling Law Is Fair In lone Pine’s $250 Million NAFTA Suit

2015: The Most Over-the-Top-Biased Frac Panel Yet? QUÉBEC Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources sold itself to the Devil. Check out this list! Check it twice!

2015: Borrowed Dreams? Promises of regulations led Gaspé to drop lawsuit with Petrolia. Junex dares to dream of oil in Québec; penny stock soared 209% recently, lifted shares of peers Petrolia and Petrolympcs while $200 Billion debt looms over USA oil and gas

2014: Corridor’s exploration on Anticosti Island will use fracking

2014: Government of Quebec partnering with the oil and gas industry to hunt for oil on Anticosti Island puts taxpayers at risk, Marois strikes $115M deal

2014: Quebec announces extensive studies to assess oil and gas potential, St. Lawrence Lowlands, Anticosti Island subjects of fracking probes

2014: Quebec’s Premier Declares Province-wide Shale Gas Ban after Environmental Review Board (BAPE) says Fracking Not Worth The Risk, “Too many negative consequences to the environment and society…risks to air and water quality…noise and light pollution”

2014: Government finds methane in drinking water wells in Gaspé, water wells are within 2 km of Pétrolia’s oil wells, one of them reported in 2012 to be leaking methane

2014: quebec signals shift in support for oil and gas development

2014: Gaspé wants Quebec government to intervene; The Quebec Superior Court agrees with Petrolia, says Gaspé municipality not allowed to protect its drinking water supplies from the oil and gas industry

2013: Hydraulic Fracturing: The new oil sheik of Quebec

2012: Canadian taxpayers could be on hook for Quebec fracking decision because of NAFTA Chapter 11 that protects corporations even if they risk health, the public interest and environment to take profit ]

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