Behind-the-scenes of The Missive #14

It's full on "tariff panic," US billionaires are waiting to pounce, and a promise of nature photos at the end for paid subscribers (special Valentine's deal!)

My Scottish/Irish ancestors arrived on the east coast of so-called “Canada” in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s and were part of several waves of genocidal colonization of the Indigenous people who were already here. We arrived uninvited on the traditional unceded territory of the Wəlastəkewiyik (Maliseet) whose ancestors along with the Mi’Kmaq / Mi’kmaw and Passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati Tribes / Nations signed Peace and Friendship Treaties with the British Crown in the 1700s. I like to explain my family’s history and keep this foremost in my mind (and my writing) at all times. I know I have benefited as a result of colonization, and I find the history deeply troubling. It is what motivates me to understand the true history and advocate for real reconciliation. As a child in the 1970’s, I moved west with my family and am grateful to be writing this newsletter now in Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. This territory is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. I recognize that the land I now work and live on was stolen from these nations (truth) and I support giving the land back as an act of reconciliation. Lands inhabited by Indigenous Peoples contain 80% of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples’ traditional knowledge and knowledge systems are key to designing a sustainable future for all.

Thoughts following my new article in The Energy Mix:

When I was assigned this story on Friday, I’ll admit I was a little intimidated. So much had already been written and said about US President Donald Trump’s threats to use “economic force” to take over Canada, and elected leaders seemed to be in a full “tariff panic” considering anything and everything to protect the country’s economy.

I seriously thought there wasn’t anything else that could be said. Until The Energy Mix publisher Mitchell Beer forwarded me a news release from the Climate Action Network. What I read there motivated me to stop sulking and help spread their message.

Canadians overwhelmingly agree we shouldn't allow American companies to take over ownership of our natural resources.

So let's talk more about the US money and influence behind the fossil fuel projects, especially LNG terminals and gas pipelines, that some want to fast track. Oil pipelines are less likely to be a threat, mostly because most investors know oil is very soon going to be a stranded asset.

Also, there are very few places Canada can ship its particular type of crude oil. It requires a special refining process and it’s really too late to build any new refineries here. The real play is gas, fracked and turned into liquefied natural gas (LNG).

And, you’d better believe that America wants our gas, and access to shipping terminals to sell LNG overseas. Other countries too, but the US is the immediate threat. But time is running out because that market is also at risk due to the adoption of renewable energy.

I recommend reading the full article for some of the details and check out some of the links to various activists and environmental groups trying to get the word out. Here’s an excerpt (below) and a link to the Feb. 11 story.

Fossil gas (“natural” gas is used to make it sound better) is touted as not as carbon intensive as oil, but research shows it is actually worse than coal by 33%. Not only is this rush to exploit oil and gas bad for the environment, but rushing to give control of those resources to American companies, could be catastrophic for our sovereignty.

And if you have the ability to become a paid subscriber to The Missive, my personal newsletter, I’m offering a special Valentine’s Day discount for annual subscriptions.

There are also further insights from this story and others I’ve been working on and published, following the excerpt below for my wonderful, but small group of paid subscribers who continue to help me do what I love in my semi-retirement.

Old Pipelines, New Pressure: U.S. Tariffs Revive Talk of Shelved Fossil Fuel Projects

Political leaders reacting to tariff threats from the United States are considering oil and gas projects that may put them at odds with Canadians seeking to protect the country’s natural resources and transition to renewable energy.

Natural Resources and Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told reporters last week that the “world has changed” and no one could have predicted a U.S. president would treat Canada as an “adversary” instead of an ally.

Wilkinson said there were “vulnerabilities” in the country’s energy infrastructure and did not rule out reconsidering an oil pipeline eastward from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Ontario and Quebec, in order to avoid the U.S.

Currently, nearly half of Ontario and Quebec’s fuel needs are met by Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, which moves Western Canadian oil down through Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario, operating in part “at the whim of the Americans,” writes John Paul Tasker for CBC News.

Keith Stewart, a senior energy strategist at Greenpeace Canada, said that rather than considering new oil routes, “the smart play” for Canada would be to reduce its reliance on oil exports.

“Doubling down on new pipelines when the rest of the world is moving to electric vehicles and heat pumps would be like buying a Blockbuster franchise as Netflix is taking off.”

Read the full article for FREE on The Energy Mix website.