Latest news with #UCP
Calgary Herald
17 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: I can't stay silent about Grassy Mountain — and neither should you
Grassy Mountain, peak to left, and the Grassy Mountain Coal Project are seen north of Blairmore, in 2024. Photo by Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press As a professional engineer with 20 years of experience, I've always believed in the power of expertise and competence. I take my professional oaths seriously, and respect others who do the same. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors When I need advice on health, I consult doctors. On education, teachers. Yet, when Premier Danielle Smith was asked who advises her on Alberta's energy future, she answered, 'I take advice from CEOs. Who else would I take advice from?' I remind the engineers who are reading this that we are legally bound to prioritize public safety in our work. So it should raise extreme suspicion when the UCP makes an effort to avoid adding engineers to advisory panels. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This is more than a political choice, it's a betrayal of public trust. Engineers are trained to solve complex systems. We ensure each part of the whole meets safety codes, and that our designs meet the clients' specifications. I believe our oaths extend beyond individual parts and apply to the entire system. For decades, I focused on safety in the details. It was my job to ensure every part I was asked to design was designed to the spec and as safe as possible. As I enter my senior engineering years, I see the bigger picture. Our profession's ethical duty must also apply to strategic decisions. Take the Grassy Mountain coal mine. Smith touts its economic benefits while dismissing environmental and safety concerns. She tells the public that we must develop our resources to ensure prosperity while refusing to listen to alternatives. There is a glaring technical question that her circle of advisers will never consider: Should we build an open-pit coal mine when green steel alternatives are emerging globally? The answer lies in engineering expertise, not CEO incentives. I've spent my career executing decisions made by others. As a junior engineer, I diligently followed design and industry specifications. As a project manager, I optimized flawed plans cooked up in closed-door boardroom meetings. I understand this is how the world works. We work in imperfect situations, with limited resources and tight deadlines. Sometimes you just need to get the job done. But our profession's integrity is compromised when engineers are excluded from strategic choices. CEOs, legally obligated to maximize shareholder value, cannot prioritize public welfare. Yet, over time, we've let them become the default 'experts' in energy policy. This a failure of our professional accountability. Engineers must ask: Are we being consulted on whether projects should proceed, or just asked to approve predetermined plans?
Edmonton Journal
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Saturday's letters: Smith's survey bars contrary views
I just tried to complete the Alberta Next survey and was unable to express my opinions. The survey is designed to support the UCP agenda and does not respect that the citizens of Alberta have the right to differ in opinion from Madame Premier. I was under the impression from advertising that the survey was seeking the opinion of all Albertans. Article content Perhaps being a senior and concerned about health care, vaccinations and my pension has put me out of the loop to what is really important. However my vote is important and right now it is going the NDP. Premier Smith says she cares for all Albertans, but she has not learned that her opinion of what is right for all is just her opinion. If she really wants to know what the rest of us think, her survey should offer us the opportunity to actually express ourselves. After all, we are footing the bill. Article content Article content Article content So the UCP town hall meetings are underway with the stated goal of protecting Alberta from Ottawa's attacks while building a more prosperous, strong and sovereign Alberta within Canada. I would much rather have the town halls focus on protecting Albertans from the UCP. It is clear that Albertans do not want an Alberta pension plan nor do we want an Alberta police force which has quietly been thrust upon us. Article content Meanwhile, Danielle Smith continues to push the outsourcing of medical procedures at the expense of public health, our education system is underfunded, and our province is under attack from the Trump administration. Ottawa is not the enemy; the enemy is from within. Article content John Campbell, Edmonton Article content Article content Louise Davis makes a point in her letter about how politicians should step down gracefully. She rightly highlights the issue of disrespect — and that's exactly the word that applies to what's happened with Pierre Poilievre. Article content In his riding, individuals chose to put 90 extra names on the ballot — an act that seems not only undemocratic but deeply disrespectful to our country and to the integrity of our voting system. It undermines the foundation of democracy and disrespects the people who participate in it in good faith. Article content It seems this kind of interference is happening again in the current byelection. We need to be honest: We're comparing apples and oranges when we talk about Poilievre and Singh. Jagmeet Singh's NDP was soundly defeated in the last election, so stepping down was almost inevitable. Poilievre, on the other hand, didn't lose in the traditional sense — his loss was due to chaos caused by people who don't respect how elections are supposed to work.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nayara Energy first Indian refinery to be hit by anti-Russia sanctions
AI generated image NEW DELHI: Nayara Energy's refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat became the first in India to come under Western sanctions as the European Union on Friday announced fresh curbs on Russian oil exports with the aim of throttling funding for Moscow's war machine. 'For the first time, we're designating a flag registry and the biggest Rosneft refinery in India,' agencies quoted EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as saying. India responded by saying it 'does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures. 'We are a responsible actor and remain fully committed to our legal obligations. Government of India considers the provision of energy security a responsibility of paramount importance to meet the basic needs of its citizens. We would stress that there should be no double standards, especially when it comes to energy trade,' external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to media queries. The new measures include lowering the current price cap of $60/barrel, the threshold at which countries outside the G7 grouping of seven developed economies can buy Russian oil and access Western shipping as well as insurance services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo Additionally, 105 off-radar vessels have been sanctioned, bringing the total to 223 out of a fleet of 400 oil tankers and limiting Moscow's ability to evade the price cap. Rosneft, along with partners — commodities trader Trafigura and Russian investment firm UCP (United Capital Partners — had acquired the refinery with a capacity of 20 million tonne per annum from Essar Oil for $12.9 billion in 2017. Rosneft holds 49.1% in the venture. An investment consortium SPV, Kesani Enterprises Company holds 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara. Kesani is owned by Russia's United Capital Partners (UCP) and Hara Capial Sarl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mareterra Group Holding (formerly Genera Group Holding S.p.A. ). The sanction could have a crippling effect on the refinery and derail Rosneft's attempt to exit the venture because of sanctions made repatriation impossible. The refinery depends on exports to Europe and Africa as a small retail network of 6,750 fuel stations limit domestic sales. Curbs on products derived from Russian oil could cloud exports, impacting operations and threatening jobs. The curbs will also derail Rosneft's bid to exit the venture because sanctions made repatriation of profit impossible. As reported by TOI earlier, the Russian giant had initiated talks with Reliance Industries Ltd for selling its (deleting 49.1%) stake in Nayara but the asking price of $20 billion was proving to be a hurdle., The new price cap will be graded in a band to the market average as subdued prices rendered the present cap less effective. At current oil prices, the new cap is expected to be in the region of $47 reflecting a shaving of about 21% from the current cap, media reports said. The move is aimed at squeezing Moscow's oil revenue, the bulwark of Russian economy, without giving a supply shock to the market. The lower cap will deepen the discounts and make Russian oil more attractive for other Indian refiners — the largest buyers, next only to China. Executives of refining companies, however, said more clarity is needed, especially on export of products, before coming to a view. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Alberta Premier urges Canadian PM to designate Lawrence Bishnoi gang as "terrorist entity"
Alberta [Canada], July 16 (ANI): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet to formally label the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a 'terrorist entity', citing its involvement in transnational crime and violence in Canada and abroad. In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Smith, Alberta's 19th Premier and Leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP), described the Bishnoi gang as a global criminal organisation involved in offences such as violence, extortion, drug trafficking, and targeted killings, including incidents in Canada. Highlighting the growing threat posed by the organised crime groups operating across international borders, the Premier said that gang activity 'knows no boundaries and respects no borders.' 'The Lawrence Bishnoi Gang is a transnational criminal network responsible for violence, extortion, drug trafficking and targeted killings, including here in Canada. Its reach is global, and its intent is criminal and violent,' she said in her post on X. 'Alberta wants to send a clear message: you are not welcome here,' Smith added. The Premier emphasised that officially labelling the gang as a 'terrorist entity' would empower law enforcement agencies across provincial and municipal levels to more effectively combat its operations, while calling on the Canadian Government to act with urgency. 'Formally designating the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist entity will unlock critical powers, allowing provincial and municipal-level law enforcement agencies to access the necessary tools and resources needed to effectively disrupt operations and protect our people,' the post read. 'The time for action is now. Alberta's government is asking the federal government and Prime Minister Mark Carney to join them in taking a stand and act to protect Albertans and all Canadians,' it added. Lawrence Bishnoi is currently under the custody of the Indian Government under many charges, including the links to the killing of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala back in 2022, in a reported gang rivalry. This incident drew widespread national attention, which catapulted Bishnoi and his gang into the mainstream. His gang also took credit for the assassination of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique last year. (ANI)
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Braid: Alberta hit by measles comparison with U.S., but all Canada is an epidemic in waiting
Alberta's measles outbreak is a big story, especially for people who don't like Alberta. We're painted as the national plague ship adrift on a sea of misery. Article content Alberta does have a serious measles problem, some of it caused by the UCP government's ambiguity about vaccination. Article content Article content But so does nearly everybody else. Vaccination rates are dangerously low across the country. Escaping a big infection cluster like Alberta's is largely dumb luck. Article content Article content The U.S. has 1,288 cases, or so it's said. Article content Now, that's a story. Alberta has more measles than a country with 100 times our population. Article content The stated American number is almost certainly far too low. Vaccination rates in many states are below Canada's. Article content President Donald Trump is busily dismantling national standards and agencies. Who's counting as they lose their jobs? Article content Article content What matters is how we're doing here at home. And it's a dismal picture nearly everywhere, especially for children. Article content Article content Here are vaccination rates by province for the crucial category of kids age seven or under: Article content Only Saskatchewan, the vaccination rock star, would pass the 95 per cent target for creating mass immunity and stopping measles cold. Article content Alberta vaccination rates rise with age until, by late teens, they're often over 90 per cent. But the most vulnerable are woefully under-protected.
