David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks many would agree that Higgy is being played like fiddle N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/higgs-says-maritime-iron-plant-hinges.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/maritime-iron-plant-emissions-exemption-new-brunswick-federal-1.5443583
Higgs says Maritime Iron plant hinges on a federal exemption — an exemption that doesn't exist
Premier cites mysterious mechanism used in approving B.C. while making case for iron-ore facility
· CBC News · Posted: Jan 29, 2020 6:00 AM AT
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says the proposed high-emitting Maritime Iron plant hinges on a federal exemption that doesn't exist. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Maritime Iron's hopes of winning provincial approval for its proposed high-emissions iron plant appear to hinge on a federal exemption mechanism that doesn't exist.
Premier Blaine Higgs said Ottawa giving the plant a special pass will "absolutely be the decision-maker" in whether it will be allowed to add 2.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gases to New Brunswick's emissions.
Higgs said if the federal government recognizes that the plant will reduce emissions globally even while increasing them provincially, "we should be good to go," citing what he said was a similar exemption given to a liquefied natural gas plant in British Columbia.
He said his government has been working with the federal government on that possibility.
But the B.C. plant has not received any such federal exemption and there is no mechanism for Ottawa to grant one so a province can get around its own provincial emissions targets.
Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says provinces should focus on meeting their own emissions goals. The New Brunswick premier and Maritime Iron say the proposed plant should receive an exemption because it would create a net global reduction in emissions. (Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
"The project at issue is going through an environmental assessment that is a provincial assessment," federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in Ottawa. "We expect that provinces are going to focus on how they actually meet their own emissions targets."
Maritime Iron claims the plant will displace higher-emitting iron processing plants in other countries and that its location will reduce shipping distances, cutting down on emissions from ocean freighters.
That will lead to a net global reduction in emissions even if New Brunswick's numbers go up, the company says.
The proposed iron-ore processing plant in Belledune would use the existing NB Power conveyor system to move materials from port to the facility. (Elena Mantagaris/Maritime Iron)
Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement leaves the door open to countries sharing emissions reductions through transfers of reduction credits.
But countries wanting to do that would have to first agree on rules governing how to verify and measure such reductions. International negotiators failed to reach such an agreement at talks in Madrid in December.
Consider global impact, premier says
Higgs spoke to reporters last week after Maritime Iron's environmental impact assessment document was filed publicly with the province.
The document says if the new iron processing plant were linked to NB Power's adjacent Belledune generating station, the two facilities would emit a combined 4.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, a net increase of 2.3 million.
That would make it difficult for New Brunswick to hit both its legislated emissions target for 2020 and a less stringent reduction target for 2030 that is modelled on Canada's Paris agreement goals.
"It will hinge on the federal government approving this project to be treated as a global emission reduction," Higgs said. "If they treat it in isolation for New Brunswick and don't give it an exemption, then that'll be an issue."
He pointed to a liquefied natural gas plant to be built in B.C. by a consortium called LNG Canada as a precedent.
"We're seeing in B.C. they've done the same thing, with the L.N.G. plant that's out in B.C.," he said. "That's treated as a global emission reduction."
No mechanism in place
But no such federal exemption exists for the B.C. plant because federal and provincial officials agree the plant won't exceed the province's targets.
"LNG Canada fits within the climate architecture of the B.C. government," Wilkinson said.
Last year, then-federal natural resources minister Amarjeet Sohi floated the idea that Article 6 of the Paris agreement could be used for the LNG plant.
But with no agreed-upon mechanism to measure the hypothetical emissions reductions elsewhere, it hasn't happened yet.
Ottawa doesn't even have a role in the Maritime Iron approval process and isn't responsible for whether it counts towards New Brunswick's provincially-legislated targets.
Higgs's office did not respond to a request Tuesday for documentation of the exemption he was talking about.
LNG Canada, the consortium building the plant in Kitimat, B.C., has claimed its methane gas could replace 20 to 40 coal-fired power plants in countries such as China and India, reducing emissions by 60 to 90 million tonnes.
B.C. Premier John Horgan's justification for approving the LNG Canada plant cited by Higgs is that the facility will keep emissions within his province's climate plan. (Tanya Fletcher / CBC)
B.C. Premier John Horgan has used that claim to justify approving the plant, claiming it will keep provincial emissions within limits set out in his government's climate plan — something environmentalists dispute.
Horgan has also promised the plant a break on the next increase in the provincial carbon tax, along with other subsidies, if it meets a standard for emissions intensity.
Proposal would create largest N.B. emitter
The combined 4.9 million tonnes of emissions from the combined Maritime Iron-NB Power facility would make it the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in New Brunswick, far exceeding Irving Oil's annual output of around three million tonnes.
Maritime Iron has suggested that the province go looking for emissions reductions elsewhere to make room for its increase.
The province's legislated emissions goal for this year is 14.8 million tonnes, and for 2030 it's 10.7 million tonnes. It also has a second, less stringent 2030 goal, 14.1 million tonnes, tied to Canada's Paris climate plan objectives.
New Brunswick's emissions in 2017 were 14.3 million tonnes, below the legislated 2020 target and close to the 2030 Paris target.
The Belledune iron plant would employ 200 people during operations and 1,300 during a two-year construction phase.
111 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks Higgy should look forward to the circus in Ottawa today N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks many would agree that Higgy is being played like fiddle N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: All 21 of the people who voted for you ?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks you should check the tally of the 7 elections again before you
embarrass yourself and your hero Higgy further N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Methinks Maritime Iron's people should have got back to me when I was running in Fundy Royal last year After all it is the Federal Riding where Higgy and a lot of his cohorts live N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @David Amos: Would have given you what , 21 votes ?
Pat Holland:
Reply to @David Amos: what would you have done?? Lol NESY PAS
David Amos
Reply to @Pat Holland: Methinks you and Higgy forgot that I sued the Queen in 2015 and am about to do so again N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
I guess this area voted no for the plant when they elected their MP ! I guess you reap what you sow.
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks the Green Party leader admitted long ago that we get the
governments we deserve Nothing has changed N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
And where are the Greens and David Coon on this ?? Or are they waitin' for the Liberals to tell them ???
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Stay tuned
Lou Bell
Boy this sure puts the SANB Libs in a bind ! Wanna blame Higgs for it not happening , but also want to blame him if it does happen ! Don't know if they're comin' or goin !
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Methinks everybody has no doubt that the SANB are laughing as hard at
Higgy's latest nonsense as I am Thats why your buddies Martin and
Deschamps failed to make the scene even though you tried hare to bait
them into offering their two bits to this circus N'esy Pas?
Jim Cyr
It’s all politics, and it’s all a game. Horgan is “a good leftie”, so the media and Trudeau will give him a pass. Higgs is conservative, so he’ll get hammered by the media for doing the exact same thing. And Trudeau will say no. Too bad for you people in the poverty-stricken North Shore who want jobs. Stay on EI.
David Amos
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Sad but true
Michael Durant
we can always increase the carbon tax on gasoline to compensate for the emissions produced by this.
David Amos
Reply to @Michael durant: Surely you jest
Kyle Woodman
This company said they were prepared to go ahead without an exemption. Why in the hell is Higgs trying to get these guys off from paying millions of dollars in carbon tax that we can use. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth. He clearly has no understanding how carbon pricing works. Madness.
David Amos
Reply to @Kyle Woodman: Welcome back to the circus
Danny Devo
I cannot wait for New Brunswickers to rid themselves of this insufferable old con and his cronies in the next election.
June Arnott
Reply to @Danny Devo:
what you going to vote Liberal? Ya that will change everything. All
parties are the same. People are ignorant
David Amos
Reply to @Danny Devo: Me Too
Reply to @June Arnott: Sad but true
Kyle Woodman
Reply to @Danny Devo: Here! Here!
Lou Bell
Reply to @Danny Devo:
You'd prefer the group that wanted to give away 110 million dollars of
our money for their " Phonie Party " ?
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks you are flogging a dead horse N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Perhaps goal is to have the province shut down Belledune , import more Quebec power , hence a win/ win/ win for Hydro Quebec / Maritime Iron / the owners of the Quebec mine ( whoever it is , be it Maritime Iron or some other Quebec Company .
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Lou Bell:
That would be wonderful! We can only hope. Our grid will be cleaner
and the power rates should drop or at least not rise,.
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Dream on
Daniel Rawlins
Second to last sentence; "New Brunswick's emissions in 2017 were 14.3 million tonnes, below the legislated 2020 target and close to the 2030 Paris target." ?
Lou Bell
Reply to @Daniel
Rawlins: The Paris accord target is 14.1 million tonnes . It's
legislated target is 10.1 million tonnes , which I suspect would be the
ultimate goal , the 14.1 keeps them within the Paris target .
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell: Who cares when your hero Trump doesn't?
Robert L. Brown
pollution is not on the premier's list for New Brunswick as he allows JD IRVING to spray cancer causing chemicals on the trees of the forests of New Brunswick killing all hardwood products and fish in the streams
Paul Bourgoin
Reply to @Robert L.
Brown: If any one ever called a Spade a Spade, Sir, you just did and
nothing will change! Profit Money is more important then Human Health!
Oh, we also fund our hospitals financially trough our provincial Taxation!
Oh, we also fund our hospitals financially trough our provincial Taxation!
David Peters
Reply to @Robert L. Brown:
Reportedly drives deer and moose out of the sprayed areas too. Also thought to be killing earthworms, doing untold damage to the soil.
Reportedly drives deer and moose out of the sprayed areas too. Also thought to be killing earthworms, doing untold damage to the soil.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Robert L. Brown: And this started when Higgs took office ?? Pullease !!!
David Amos
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Cry me a river Methinks the buck stops with Higgy now. Atleast he cannot
deny the fact that the liberal appointed Chief Medical officer will not
allow his Minister Mikey Holland to help feed the culled venison to the
poor in the St Andrews area much to the chagrin of Cumberland and
everyone else would is not a liberal. But then again I bet you would
never put venison on the menu for Horizon N'esy Pas?
Ferdinand Boudreau
Am I missing something here " if you pollute more, result will be less pollution". Or is this just a tax crab. Smell fishy to me
David Amos
Reply to @Ferdinand Boudreau: Methinks everything smells fishy in the Maritimes N'esy Pas?
Winston Smith
It looks like future industrial expansion is doomed in this province. Climate politics will trump any initiatives. The folks in Belledune must be regretting voting for the Federal Liberals.
Kevin Cormier
Reply to @Winston
Smith: Climate trumps most project already... over the last decade, the
"EIA" process for nearly all projects has triples in paper work and
requirements. This has little to do with who is living at Sussex Drive.
Theo Lavigne
Reply to @Winston
Smith: Maybe they can build it in eastern Maine where the US have few
regulations (a la Trump) and it can still pollute N.B.
Winston Smith
Reply to @Kevin Cormier: The person who occupies the Prime-Ministers office can change those regulations.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Winston
Smith: Oh is that how it works? Funny. I thought laws and regulations
were voted on first by all of the MP's and then final approval of the
senate. Silly me. All it takes is one man... The PM.
Jim Cyr
Reply to @Theo Lavigne: we are not environmental Nazis here in Maine, so we will definitely take those jobs. Thanks!!
Pat Holland
Reply to @Jim Cyr: Sad but true! Not very welcoming to industry. So they will go elsewhere.
David Amos
Reply to @Pat Holland: Was there any doubt?
Greg Miller
What can I say ---- IDIOTIC!
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Miller: Relax and enjoy the circus
Fred Brewer
A dirty industry like this needs to mitigate its emissions by choosing a location with the lowest environmental footprint. As many on this site have already pointed out, the best location is right beside the iron ore mines in Quebec. Not only does this reduce transportation emissions to practically zero, it means the plant can use clean hydro electricity. About 97% of Quebec's electricity is from hydro. There is no way anyone can justify locating this plant in NB. Claiming that it will somehow cause China to close some of its plants when this one starts production, is pure fantasy. Mr. Higgs needs to tell Maritime Iron thanks but no thanks.
Rob Franklin
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Contrary to all of the ridiculous posts on here, yours is the only one to make a LOT of sense.
David Amos
Reply to @Rob Franklin: Surely you jest
John PokiokWhat is wrong with NB government don't you guys get it that Trudeau won election based of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gases. Yet this government wants to install a project that is set to fail and cost entire province with high emission of greenhouse gases. Trudeau government won't exempt this project just forget about. You better off trying to attract some green projects you might have better luck.
Barry Odonnell
Reply to @John Pokiok: Yes!! Maybe a factory that runs on solar energy that generates pixie fairy dust! You are right about the True Doh government. They have no clue how to generate a job other than throwing tax money at a bigger deficit.
David Peters
Reply to @John Pokiok:
"...Trudeau won election based of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gases...."
More like, lost a majority....but, ppl who vote liberal are voting for freebies, imo. The regions that receive transfer payments tended to vote red. Is this sustainable...or even reasonable?
"...Trudeau won election based of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gases...."
More like, lost a majority....but, ppl who vote liberal are voting for freebies, imo. The regions that receive transfer payments tended to vote red. Is this sustainable...or even reasonable?
Fern Robichaud
Reply to @John Pokiok: We are one planet, Paris Accord is for the whole planet, iron is a must, people need jobs.
Marc Martin
Reply to @David
Peters: *More like, lost a majority* You seem to forget that the other
33% voted for Climate change issues but that's the case with old Cons
voters. The world is changing and all the young kids are voting for
climate change.
David
Peters
Reply to @Marc Martin:
Once kids finish their years of being brainwashed in public schools, they'll wake up to realize they were indoctrinated, not educated.
Once kids finish their years of being brainwashed in public schools, they'll wake up to realize they were indoctrinated, not educated.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David
Peters: Ahhh yes. The climate change deniers now accuse all of Canada's
school boards and all of its teachers of collusion.
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Methinks its way past time for your nap N'esy Pas?
Ray Fredette
A perfect example of how the Carbon Tax shell game works...heavy emissions in NB, but lwr world wide...total idiocy.
End result: You pay, the corporations don't. You use blue bags, they rape the land and walk away.
And the people bought this snake oil? Just wow!
David Amos
Reply to @ray fredette: YUP
Matt Steele
It would have been nice for this project to create jobs in an economically depressed area ; but at what cost ? There is a social cost associated with Trudeau's Green Plan , and Northern N.B. is about to pay that price in the form of lost jobs . It sounds like this project was a lost cause from day one .
Barry Odonnell
Reply to @Matt
Steele: Trudeau has no sense of cost. He spends like a drunken sailor. I
am still waiting for this big "Green New Economy" to come springing to
life lol. What a farce.
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @Matt Steele:
I strongly suspect this is no more that an attempt to get votes in the north of the province for Higgs........... there is no reason for this to happen, so if Higgs can be seen as supporting it he wins, and he wins if he can blame anybody else for it not happening.
I strongly suspect this is no more that an attempt to get votes in the north of the province for Higgs........... there is no reason for this to happen, so if Higgs can be seen as supporting it he wins, and he wins if he can blame anybody else for it not happening.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I agree but Methinks Higgy made a fool of himself in the process N'esy Pas?
Chris McNee
Someone’s pants are on fire...
Layton Bennett
Reply to @Chris McNee: I suspect you are correct.
David Amos
Reply to @Layton Bennett: I concur
Laurie Clark
Once again Higgs spouts off about hings he knows nothing about.
David Amos
Reply to @Laurie Clark: BINGO
Layton Bennett
I find it hard to believe that Higgs isn't aware of this. Is he really that uninformed? Or is he deliberately looking for a way to pin this on Trudeau?
David Amos
Reply to @Layton Bennett: Both
Terry Tibbs
There is a bit of a "snow job" going on here.
Would I worry about how much a car pollutes if I can't afford to buy that car?
Last I heard the provincial government had been expected to finance this thing? Or has it become magically self financing? Pollution should be the very least of anyone's worries.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks you fail to see the humour in this N'esy Pas?
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Amos:
Well, I *guess* if we wait long enough it should be an easy sell to a glorified security guard.
David Amos
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: Methinks we should take the fluoride out of the water first then
embark on a true education of our children and wait a generation or more
for cognitive dissonance to be not so rampant within the electorate
before any "glorified security guard" would ever act ethically on behalf
of anyone. Until then we the old folks might as well enjoy the circus
we paid for. I presume that is why you changed your name N'esy Pas?
No comments:
Post a Comment