In a startling reversal of history, a Middle Eastern energy company is pushing into the Canadian oil and gas market looking for secure supplies, and, thanks to a battle with activist shareholders on this continent, it may be getting a good deal in the process.

The sale comes less than two years after Pogo bought the Canadian company for $1.8-billion and appears to have been the result of heavy pressure from activist investors, led by Third Point LLC, an aggressive U.S. hedge fund led by Daniel Loeb, who have been unhappy with Pogo’s performanc

Conservation Council of New Brunswick News Release

May 29, 2007

Fredericton - On May 27, 2007, a harvester was spotted levelling the forest near the Portage Vale/Elgin area in Albert County. The area is the proposed site of the “Quintessential Canada” tourist resort; a gated community of 2,000 luxury homes priced between $600,000 and $1.2 million each, a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, 200,000 square foot conference centre, sports village, racino and spa. Ann Collins Property Ltd., an investment property specialist based in Ireland, is planning to build a multi-million dollar exclusive tourist resort on land that includes 2,800 acres of public land.
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–Castro has continued his written attacks on the dangerous idea of moving to ethanol as a fuel source. It is the wrong way to go, given the current system, if we actually consider that many people will go hungry or be driven further into poverty. The analysis is a must-read.

–Important analysis of the current stage of NAFTA. The Security and Prosperity Partnership (Orwell would be proud) is the next phase of the growth in neo-liberalism in North America. This, along with the Gateway, are the new threat to Canadian independence and manufacturing jobs. We must stop the growth of the Gateway infrastructure if we are going to be able to have any independence politically and if we are going to have any meaningful growth of our economy.

–The Democrats have lost their way… or, maybe they never had it.

–Support for the non-renewal of RCTV’s public airwaves licence. Also of interest is the recent article from MR Zine on the issue.

–The US continues its assault on democracy in Venezuela.

–Health and education for all. At least, for all in Venezuela. Too bad Canada cannot offer the same for its citizens.

–More on RCTV being moved off of the public airwaves in Venezuela.

–Rather nice to see those that are in the minority (the right-wing in this case) be the ones protesting in the streets. RCTV should have been closed a long time ago given its involvement in the coup to over-throw Chavez. However, it is rather great to see a government and a people demand that its public licence not be renewed and be isolated in cable TV land. There is nothing anti-democratic about this move.

–Big surprise… Wait, no, it isn’t. NB already has some of the lowest corporate taxes in Canada. Now, with all the public money going to building the “Atlantic Gateway” it wouldn’t make sense to increase taxes on corporations. If they did then the Atlantic Gateway might not be considered corporate welfare.

–Democracy is not exactly the word that should be used to describe the actions of the New Brunswick political system.

–This continues to be the way that the Conservatives do business. We should not be surprised.

–This should be of note for those who like to keep watch on our imperialist arm. CIDA continues to be rather useless at carrying out its supposed mandate of development and aid.

Following close on the heels of Environment Minister John Baird’s decision to exempt industry from hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions, the Minister has exempted the first Canadian oil refinery to be built since global warming became a concern, from assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Today, on the UN’s International Day for Biological Diversity, CCNB is calling on Premier Shawn Graham to safeguard the forest conservation areas on public land that the Self-Sufficiency Task Force wants to slash.

Irving Oil would like to build a second oil refinery in Saint John, N.B. The project is up for environmental impact assessment–at least in terms of the paperwork. New Brunswick’s Premier, Shawn Graham of the Liberal Party, has repeatedly voiced his support for the second refinery. Federal Environment Minister John Baird of the Conservative Party specifically endorsed the second refinery project on CBC’s The Current on April 27.

–More disaster in Lebanon. Read Fisk. Know the truth.

–Gotta love it.

–The title says it all.

–Demand that our rail system be maintained at safe levels. Support the workers.

–Some analysis of why gas prices are going up… yet again. Of-course, it has a lot to do with the private oil companies making huge profits.