Latest news with #Stettler
CBC
9 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Alberta oilfield company sanctioned $450K for illegal storage of industrial sewage
Social Sharing An Alberta oilfield services company has been fined nearly $450,000 for unsafely storing and illegally profiting from industrial sewage it was not authorized to accept. In a decision issued last week, Red Deer-based Terroco Industries Ltd. was penalized by the Alberta Energy Regulator for a string of infractions dating back to the summer of 2023. The investigation found the company was unlawfully profiting from the storage of industrial sewage at its subsurface well disposal site in Stettler, Alta. The sewage from an agricultural-based industrial facility was incompatible with the company's licence and disposing of such highly-concentrated waste within a deep injection well is strictly prohibited. The company's founder and CEO, Terrance O'Connor, admitted to the contraventions but blamed either his own staff or third parties who had supplied the fluid for the infractions. In response to the investigation, O'Connor made conflict of interest allegations against an AER inspector and claimed the regulator had no jurisdiction over his company because he's Indigenous. The regulator rejected those allegations and ruled Terroco Industries was alone responsible for the waste it accepted. The company has not responded to requests for comment. Unapproved sewage The AER investigation identified five key contraventions centred on the company's Stettler disposal well, which the company has owned since the 1980s. Stettler is about 80 kilometres east of Red Deer. The most significant violation was accepting and disposing of unapproved industrial sewage. The investigation found the company unlawfully accepted 14,196 cubic metres of wastewater over 40 days in June and August 2023. The name of the facility that generated the waste, the trucking company that delivered it, and the names of some AER officials are redacted from the regulator's decision. The contravention was deemed a "major" infraction due to the risk to environmental and human health. By accepting unapproved substances, in this case unapproved waste, effective regulatory oversight by the AER cannot occur. One of the wastewater samples confirmed the presence of polyfluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as "forever chemicals." PFSAs are a complex group of long-lasting synthetic chemicals known to cause adverse environmental and health effects. Industrial sewage contains significant amounts of non-human waste and higher concentrations of pollutants than domestic sewage and under Alberta legislation, disposal of such waste through subsurface injection is strictly prohibited. "When unapproved waste is received by a disposal facility, there is a potential for an increased risk of an adverse effect to the environment and human health, the full effects may not be known for some time," the AER decision reads. "By accepting unapproved substances, in this case unapproved waste, effective regulatory oversight by the AER cannot occur." Storage tank trouble The investigation also found several deficiencies related to an above-ground storage tank where industrial sewage was held. These included operating the tank without a secondary containment system, leak detection or a spill control device. The tank's foundation was also found to be improperly designed, elevating the risk that it could topple over. The company was fined for illegally generating revenue from its storage of the unauthorized waste, resulting in $298,980 of an administrative penalty. The fine was also increased due to the degree of "willful negligence" demonstrated by the company. The total fine was $448,980. Terroco Industries had failed to abide by previous warnings about its operational requirements, the investigation found. AER also noted that it discovered shipping receipts, known as bill of lading tickets, that "appear to have been altered" to align with approved waste types for the facility. Company officials denied it had attempted to misidentify the shipments, but told the regulator it would investigate whether others had attempted to mislead the company about the classification of waste. In a written submission, the company's CEO requested a "fair and just review" with a reduction of the penalty to more accurately reflect Terroco's "shortcomings in judgment and due diligence that were exploited by others." O'Connor said the AER investigation was influenced by "personal ties." He also expressed concern the AER was only addressing letters to him, that the focus of the investigation was on him, and suggested that one of his staff felt threatened by an AER inspector — claims the regulator denied outright. From the source Company officials told investigators that it had agreed to accept the unapproved waste after discussions with an individual from a trucking company who was hauling waste for another facility. Officials told AER that they "wrongly interpreted" the willingness of the trucking company to deliver waste to Terroco Industries to mean that the fluid was suitable for disposal. O'Connor told investigators he believed the company "had something to do with cattle" but assumed that brine water was being disposed of. According to the investigation, the manager of the Stettler facility said he had been given no formal training and had to learn "as he went." "The onus for screening the incoming waste was largely put on the consignor and trucking companies rather than Terroco, itself," the AER report reads. "Terroco's site managers at the Stettler facility confirmed that there was a lack of formalized training, a lack of knowledge about the difference between the classes of disposal wells and an inexperience with the disposal requirements." Jurisdiction challenged At a July 2025 meeting between the company and the regulator, Terroco Industries challenged AER's jurisdiction. According to the AER report, O'Connor read aloud a document which he brought titled "oral proclamation" and provided printed copies to those in attendance. That document "goes on to state that as Terrance is a Sovereign Indigenous Person, the AER has 'no jurisdiction to adjudicate this case', and that he trusts the AER will 'drop all charges.'" According to the AER, company officials did not provide new evidence during the meeting but did say there was a relatively small volume of "wash water" inside the tank and not industrial sewage. Based on the company's claim about wash water, some of the infraction fines were adjusted. But the regulator rejected the rest of the claims, while affirming the AER's jurisdiction over the company. The regulator found that no conflict of interest exists and that the investigation was comprehensive, unbiased and fair. "Terroco, as the licensee, is ultimately responsible for understanding the type of waste received and how it is managed," the report said.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'This is a scam': Poilievre wants rules changed to stop long ballot protests
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he wants Canada's election laws changed to prevent long ballot protests as he is set to face another one next month. "We have to take action because this is a scam. It is unfair, it is unjust and it must stop," Poilievre said of the long ballot protests that have occurred in recent years — including in Poilievre's riding this past election. The Conservative leader's comments came during a town hall in Stettler, Alta., last week. Stettler is a community in the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot where Poilievre is running to regain a seat in the House of Commons. Clips of the event were posted online by a local news outlet, Hometown Media. An electoral reform advocacy group — known as the Longest Ballot Committee — has been organizing dozens of candidates to run in byelections in recent years, resulting in metre-long ballots that have caused delays in vote counting and confounded some voters. The group wants to put a citizens' assembly in charge of electoral reform and says political parties are too reluctant to make government more representative of the electorate. After targeting Poilievre's former riding of Carleton, the group is now aiming to sign up 200 candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot — more than double the 91 that ran in Carleton in April. Poilievre said there were a number of changes that could prevent such protests from occurring. But he specifically suggested requiring 1,000 signatures to run, and ensuring that voters can only sign one nomination form. "That would make it impossible for 200 people to go out and have their names piled onto the [candidate] list," Poilievre told the crowd in Stettler last week. "There are a number of other things that you could do that would make it so that only real candidates who are truly running to put their name forward in our democracy are on that list." WATCH | Longest ballot candidate speaks about Carleton protest: Candidates need 100 signatures from voters in their riding to secure a nomination and electors are not prevented from signing multiple forms. The Longest Ballot Committee rebuked Poilievre's suggestions, saying such a large increase in required signatures would have a "negative impact on Canadian democracy." "This ill-conceived and self-serving electoral reform proposal by [Poilievre] is downright dangerous, and reinforces our conviction that politicians are not well suited to decide the rules of their own elections," the group said in a statement. It said it would continue to use long ballots as a form of protest as "long as we are legally permitted to do so." Poilievre is not the only one interested in curbing long ballot protests. MPs were studying legislation last session that would have actually lowered the signature threshold to 75. That bill died when the House was prorogued in January. But Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault appeared at a House committee last fall to offer his suggestions. While he said he's in favour of lowering the threshold, Perrault argued that "certain penalties" should be imposed on individuals who sign — or encourage others to sign — multiple nomination papers in an effort to get as many candidates on a ballot as possible. He didn't say what those penalties should be. Independent candidate tells protesters to back off The Longest Ballot Committee has already registered dozens of candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot, and drawn the ire of other candidates besides Poilievre. Bonnie Critchley is running as an Independent and pitching herself as an alternative to the Conservative leader, who she argues pushed out the local MP — Damien Kurek — so he could seek a seat after losing his own. But the Beaver County local says the protest is making things difficult for her as an Independent who is actually interested in representing the constituents of Battle River-Crowfoot. WATCH | Independent candidate on Alberta byelection: In an open letter to the Longest Ballot Committee posted on her campaign website, Critchley said there is a "backlash" in the riding from voters who are worried that she is a "fake out" candidate. "I don't have a massive team, I don't have backing from millions of people. I have to go door to door within my community and explain to my neighbours that I have nothing to do with you," she wrote. "I have to explain that I am here, in my home, and I am standing up for myself, my neighbours and my community against the guy from Ottawa who doesn't give a damn about us. Please do not bury me with your 'legal' election interference." Michael Harris, who is running for the Libertarian Party, called the protest a "mockery of the democratic process." "This flood of joke candidates doesn't just waste voters' time. It actively hurts serious Independent and third-party candidates who are working hard to give this riding real alternatives," Harris said in a statement. The deadline to register as a candidate in the byelection is July 28. Voting day in Battle River-Crowfoot is Aug. 18.
CBC
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'This is a scam': Poilievre wants rules changed to stop long ballot protests
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he wants Canada's election laws changed to prevent long ballot protests as he is set to face another one next month. "We have to take action because this is a scam. It is unfair, it is unjust and it must stop," Poilievre said of the long ballot protests that have occurred in recent years — including in Poilievre's riding this past election. The Conservative leader's comments came during a town hall in Stettler, Alta., last week. Stettler is a community in the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot where Poilievre is running to regain a seat in the House of Commons. Clips of the event were posted online by a local news outlet, Hometown Media. An electoral reform advocacy group — known as the Longest Ballot Committee — has been organizing dozens of candidates to run in byelections in recent years, resulting in metre-long ballots that have caused delays in vote counting and confounded some voters. The group wants to put a citizens' assembly in charge of electoral reform and says political parties are too reluctant to make government more representative of the electorate. After targeting Poilievre's former riding of Carleton, the group is now aiming to sign up 200 candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot — more than double the 91 that ran in Carleton in April. Poilievre said there were a number of changes that could prevent such protests from occurring. But he specifically suggested requiring 1,000 signatures to run, and ensuring that voters can only sign one nomination form. "That would make it impossible for 200 people to go out and have their names piled onto the [candidate] list," Poilievre told the crowd in Stettler last week. "There are a number of other things that you could do that would make it so that only real candidates who are truly running to put their name forward in our democracy are on that list." WATCH | Longest ballot candidate speaks about Carleton protest: Longest ballot protest targets Poilievre's riding to push for electoral reform | Power & Politics 3 months ago Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is one of 91 candidates registered in the suburban Ottawa riding of Carleton. It's tied for the record of having the most candidates on the ballot with the 2024 byelection in the Montreal riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. The majority of the candidates are connected to an electoral reform advocacy group called the Longest Ballot Committee. Mark Moutter, an independent candidate in the riding who is part of that initiative, joins Power & Politics to discuss why he's put his name on this large ballot. Candidates need 100 signatures from voters in their riding to secure a nomination and electors are not prevented from signing multiple forms. The Longest Ballot Committee rebuked Poilievre's suggestions, saying such a large increase in required signatures would have a "negative impact on Canadian democracy." "This ill-conceived and self-serving electoral reform proposal by [Poilievre] is downright dangerous, and reinforces our conviction that politicians are not well suited to decide the rules of their own elections," the group said in a statement. It said it would continue to use long ballots as a form of protest as "long as we are legally permitted to do so." Poilievre is not the only one interested in curbing long ballot protests. MPs were studying legislation last session that would have actually lowered the signature threshold to 75. That bill died when the House was prorogued in January. But Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault appeared at a House committee last fall to offer his suggestions. While he said he's in favour of lowering the threshold, Perrault argued that "certain penalties" should be imposed on individuals who sign — or encourage others to sign — multiple nomination papers in an effort to get as many candidates on a ballot as possible. He didn't say what those penalties should be. Independent candidate tells protesters to back off The Longest Ballot Committee has already registered dozens of candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot, and drawn the ire of other candidates besides Poilievre. Bonnie Critchley is running as an Independent and pitching herself as an alternative to the Conservative leader, who she argues pushed out the local MP — Damien Kurek — so he could seek a seat after losing his own. But the Beaver County local says the protest is making things difficult for her as an Independent who is actually interested in representing the constituents of Battle River-Crowfoot. WATCH | Independent candidate on Alberta byelection: Independent candidate says Poilievre's byelection win isn't guaranteed 2 days ago Power & Politics speaks to Independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who's running against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the upcoming Alberta byelection. Critchley says if Poilievre does win, 'it won't be by much,' and warns some residents feel 'used' by his attempt to regain a seat in the House of Commons. In an open letter to the Longest Ballot Committee posted on her campaign website, Critchley said there is a "backlash" in the riding from voters who are worried that she is a "fake out" candidate. "I don't have a massive team, I don't have backing from millions of people. I have to go door to door within my community and explain to my neighbours that I have nothing to do with you," she wrote. "I have to explain that I am here, in my home, and I am standing up for myself, my neighbours and my community against the guy from Ottawa who doesn't give a damn about us. Please do not bury me with your 'legal' election interference." The deadline to register as a candidate in the byelection is July 28. Voting day in Battle River-Crowfoot is Aug. 18.
