Why, when so many people oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project, would government and industry resort to such extreme measures to push it through? asked David Suzuki Oct. 23 in a commentary in Vancouver’s straight.com. Gus Van Harten, an international investment law professor at York’s Osgoode Hall Law School, told Desmog Blog we must consider the possibility that government and industry know that changes in attitudes about fossil fuel extraction “may lead to new regulations on the oil patch, in that, climate can’t just be wished away forever, and that governments might take steps to regulate the oil patch in ways that investors wouldn’t like.” He continues, “If you bring in a lot of Chinese investments, and you sign the Canada investment deal, you kind of get the Chinese investors to do your dirty work for you.”
Questions Remain on Alberta’s New Environmental Watchdog: Critics
Critics are questioning the progress, independence, and funding model of Alberta’s new environmental monitoring agency announced last week by the provincial government, reported TheEpochTimes.com Oct. 24. The new Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was intended to cut red tape and facilitate investment in Canada’s natural resources by limiting the public’s role in environmental assessment hearings. “Censoring participation contradicts the principles of holding a public hearing,” says Anna Zalik of York University. “There are already many obstacles to participation in these processes—time and resources are required.”
Traditionally accessible Orazietti nowhere to be found
Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti has been publicly silent since a report revealed he is pondering a run to replace Dalton McGuinty as leader of the province’s Liberals, reported The Sault Star Oct. 24. It is fairly unusual for a backbencher like Orazietti to be successful in a leadership bid such as this, though it is not uncommon for lesser known candidates to run for their own reasons, said Robert Drummond, a professor of political science at York University.
Why I shut down my blog
Online rants could hurt my future career, wrote Yuni Kim, former news editor of York’s student newspaper Excalibur in oncampus.macleans.ca Oct. 23. As a potential future teacher, my friend said I would be held to an even higher standard. I spoke to Hiren Mistry, one of my course directors at York University, to hear what he had to say. “Any young teacher who chooses to proceed with an active online life needs to think carefully about what is expected of them,” he said.