Energy and Mines News:

Owners of northern B.C. mining project prepare for downturn

The global economic crisis and the threat of a recession have forced Adanac Molybdenum Corp., the owners of a promising mine in northern British Columbia, to rethink their construction plans while they search for financing. See the CBC News story.

Forest and Environment News:

B.C. joins California court challenge of GHG standard

The Province has filed a legal brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of California’s legal challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which denied a waiver to implement the California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard for Vehicles, it was recently announced. Under the United States Clean Air Act, a waiver from the federal EPA is required where a state wishes to adopt vehicle emission standards. California has received over 50 waivers in the past; this refusal was unprecedented, thus prompting the current legal challenge. See the News Release.

Rona vows to buy only eco-certified lumber

Canadian home improvement giant Rona Inc. has adopted a tough new lumber-buying policy that Greenpeace says is going to change the way suppliers log Canada's forests. Rona wants to "do the right thing," executive vice-president Normand Dumont said when announcing new environmental standards for the lumber sold in its stores. See News Article in the Vancouver Sun.

Bail out the Auto Industry? What about the Forest Industry?

Chief executive officers from 15 of the nation's leading forest companies warned Ottawa recently against bailing out the auto and aerospace sectors. The CEOs, who have been struggling to survive a severe downturn in their own industry for the past two years, said in Vancouver that they don't want to see public money going to bailouts for any failing industries. The industry leaders were responding to references in the throne speech that the Conservative government is ready to offer support to the auto and aerospace sectors. Instead of bailouts, however, Ottawa needs to "fix the fundamentals of the economy," so that all industries will be better able to withstand the economic crisis, said Avrim Lazar, president of the Forest Products Association of Canada. See News Article in the Vancouver Sun.

Canada can work with Obama on environment, trade

The Conservative government recently said that an Obama presidency in the United States could pave the way for a common North American approach to environmental issues, and that any differences on trade could be worked out. See News Article in the Vancouver Sun.

New satellite system gets faster flood, climate data

The B.C. government has purchased a new domestic satellite data retrieval system (DOMSAT) that will greatly reduce the time needed to retrieve critical weather, snow and river data used to warn British Columbians about potential flooding, it was recently announced. See the News Release.