Canada

Protected Bike Lanes May Receive Federal Recognition

While protected bike lanes have yet to be recognized by AASHTO, they are en route to being recognized by US DOT, writes Green Lane Project's Michael Andersen. With federal guidance, transportation engineers may be more willing to build cycle tracks.

August 12, 2013 - Green Lane Project

Canada Census Bookmark

Decision to Ditch Long-Form Census Torments Canada's Planners

The federal government's controversial decision to scrap Canada's long-form census in 2011 and replace it with a voluntary household survey is coming home to roost, as cities across the country dismiss its skewed results.

July 11, 2013 - The Ottawa Citizen

Quebec Rail Disaster Revives Oil Pipeline vs. Crude-By-Rail Debate

In a scene reminiscent of the Denzel Washington movie "Unstoppable", but without the heroic ending, an unmanned, 72-car oil train traveled 7 miles to Lac-Mégantic, pop. 6,000, where it derailed, setting off a fireball downtown. 5 fatalities so far.

July 8, 2013 - The New York Times

Oil Wealth Transforms Canada

Writing in Foreign Policy, The Tyee's prolific environmental writer, Andrew Nikiforuk, blasts Canada for becoming a "rogue, reckless petrostate" due to its economic dependence on exporting oil. He holds Prime Minister Stephen Harper responsible.

June 27, 2013 - Foreign Policy

Has Toronto Built Too Much Too Fast?

As Toronto's condo building boom has transformed the city, it's also helped to transform Canada's housing market. There are warning signs, however, that a surplus of housing in the city threatens to destabilize Canada's entire economy.

June 17, 2013 - CBC News

Major Oil Pipeline Rejected - But Will Alternatives Have Greater Environmental Impacts?

Kinder Morgan's proposed $2 billion 'Freedom Pipeline' to transport West Texas oil to California refineries has been rejected - not by a governmental entity as occurred with the Northern Gateway, but by oil refineries opting to ship by rail instead.

June 7, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

British Columbia Rejects Massive Northern Gateway Oil Pipeline

The rejection may ultimately doom the $6 billion pipeline to transport Alberta's oil sands crude west through British Columbia for export. Final word is reserved for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but many say an overturn would be highly unusual.

June 3, 2013 - CBC News

Canada's Mayors Push for Affordable Housing Help

The mayors of Canada's 22 largest municipalities are pushing the federal government to extend a subsidy program used to assist 600,000 low-income households that is due to expire next year.

June 3, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

Canada's Rental Housing Crisis: A National Disaster That Demands a National Answer

With little fanfare, a rental housing crisis has gripped Canada. 42 per cent of young adults live with their parents and hundreds of thousands are on affordable housing waiting lists. It's time for Ottawa to step in, argues Denise Balkissoon.

May 23, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

UPS LNG Truck

Trucks & Trains Turn Toward LNG to Lower Costs

Just as the power industry turned toward lower priced natural gas and away from dirtier coal, there are signs that trucks and trains are looking to lower priced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace diesel-powered vehicles, but there are challenges.

April 29, 2013 - The New York Times - Energy & Environment

Arkansas Oil Pipeline Spill: A Warm-Up for Keystone XL?

The NewsHour's Judy Woodruff asks pointed questions to Anthony Swift, of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Andy Black, president of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, about the latest spill involving oil sands crude. The two agree on little.

April 6, 2013 - PBS NewsHour

Canada's 'Slab Farm' Blind Spot

In Canada, more people live in suburban high-rise apartment buildings than any other housing type. Doug Saunders looks at the country's belated recognition for its "elevator suburban" identity.

March 31, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

Oil Independence or Independence from Oil?

With booming shale oil production in North Dakota and Texas and possibly Canada's vast oil sands, there is talk of energy independence as the U.S. reduces its oil imports. But why not be less dependent on oil - domestic or imported?

March 25, 2013 - The New York Times - Sunday Review

Questions Arise About Keystone XL's Pipeline to Energy Independence

A major reason given by Keystone XL pipeline supporters is that the Canadian oil it will deliver to Gulf refineries will help make the U.S. 'energy independent', yet data shows that those refineries are now exporting 60% of the gasoline they produce.

March 18, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Can Rail Fill the Gap if Keystone XL Isn't Approved?

"Yes it can", at least to some extent appears to be the answer according to the WSJ. While the Keystone XL pipeline can move 830,000 barrels of oil a day, rail shipments are set to double this year to 200,000 barrels. Not so, according to the NRDC.

March 13, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Energy Boom or Bubble? Conflicting Reports

Two reports claim wildly opposite views on where the current shale gas boom is headed. David Hughes, a Canadian geologist and fellow of the Post Carbon Institute disputes projections of energy independence. A Univ. of Texas study confirms the boom.

March 2, 2013 - The Tyee

Vancouver Skyline Bikes

Why Has 'Vancouverism' Become a Hard Sell in Canada?

Vancouver's remarkable experiment in livable density is the envy of, and model for, cities across the world. So, after a decade of skyline expansion across Canada, why has densification 'lost steam' in the country? Doug Saunders investigates.

February 25, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

As Canada Heats Up, Officials Scramble to Keep Up

"Canada is getting hotter faster than ever before and at a faster rate than almost any other country," reports Anna Mehler Paperny, and the country's infrastructure, public health, and economy are vulnerable to unforeseen impacts.

January 24, 2013 - The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Pollution 2

A Silver Bullet for Climate Change?

Even as the world (unsuccessfully) tries to formulate a treaty to get nations to reduce their carbon emissions, researchers indicate it may be too late - the tipping point may have been reached. But what if CO2 could be extracted from the air?

January 8, 2013 - The New York Times - Novelties

'House Poor' Canada Bemoans its Growing Affordability Crisis

Richard Blackwell examines the foundations of Canada's housing "affordability crisis," in which prices have doubled over the last decade due to low rates and easy mortgage terms.

January 2, 2013 - The Globe and Mail

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