Burning down the house, melting cars, and a premier throwing fuel on the fire

The Colossally Irrational Report - End of times, err, end of August Edition

Aug 28, 2023

UPDATED AUG. 28: Added a missing paragraph about the Kelowna fire.*

But always first:

My Scottish/Irish ancestors arrived on the east coast of Turtle Island 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. I know I have benefited as a result, and I find this deeply troubling. I like to start every new post by explaining my family’s history and keeping this foremost in my mind (and my writing) at all times. I moved west with my family in the 1970’s and am grateful to be here, producing this newsletter 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.

As summers go, this one has been pretty incredible.

We started out with the most severe wildfire season in Canada on record. By early July, the federal government’s wildfire forecast was already dire according to Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos

“With this year being the worst wildfire season on record, Canada is facing unprecedented impacts from forest fires. From evacuations to poor air quality and extreme heat warnings, we are experiencing the reality of climate change effects. We are working closely with provinces and territories to reduce the risks posed by these events, including by sending air quality monitors and N95 masks to partners and communities across the country.”

And that was before the entire city of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories (NWT), was forced to evacuate via the only road in or out of the northern community on August 16. All but about 1,600 of 20,000 residents fled south to evacuation centres in Alberta.

As of late Saturday, Aug. 26, Global News was reporting that NWT officials were turning away residents trying to return to the remote city, telling them it’s not safe yet to go back to their homes.

Another NWT town, Enterprise, was reported on Aug. 16 to be almost completely destroyed by fire and the town of Hay River on Great Slave Lake, was under threat again Aug. 27 and a second evacuation was ordered for the small number of residents who had remained behind after the first evacuation.

*The same day as the Yellowknife evacuation, the BC City of Kelowna, with a population of 150,000, declared a state of emergency amid multiple evacuation orders. According to the Canadian Press, the McDougall Creek wildfire jumped Lake Okanagan, and fires led to the closing of the TransCanada Highway in both directions between Hope and Lytton. The fire eventually destroyed more than 170 structures.*

As I’m writing this post, the fire continues to burn out of control over 123 square kilometres, although many residents have been allowed to return to their homes. The fire is considered to be “held” in the Kelowna area. Some residents remain on evacuation alert, however.

People in the Shuswap region of BC will find out more information on Aug. 28 after the Bush Creek East wildfire destroyed 131 properties and damaged another 37. That fire may impact the ability of students to return to classes this fall, although officials continue to work with the local school district and BC Hydro works to restore power.

The health impacts from the fires were felt far and wide. The Associated Press reported just this week that a report found smoke from Canadian wildfires led to a spike in people with asthma visiting emergency rooms - in New York State! The worst results were from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in early June. Asthma-associated ER visits increased 82 per cent statewide in early June. New York City saw a 50 per cent increase.

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Indigenous communities hit hardest

According to columnist Niigaan Sinclair, writing in the Winnipeg Free Press, “in virtually every province, Indigenous communities have experienced some of the most devastating and brutal impacts of this wildfire season.”

“Before this recent spate of fires, 93 First Nations communities (nearly a fifth of First Nations in the country) have been impacted by fires, and almost 25,000 First Nations citizens have been evacuated. That number now is much higher, with 20 more First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities from B.C.’s interior evacuated along with more than a dozen in the Northwest Territories.”

Sinclair went on to say climate change, and in particular, wildfires, disproportionately affect Canada’s Indigenous communities. These communities make up five per cent of the population but experience 42 per cent of wildfire evacuations.

A recent study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA), a climate research institute, has been able to quantify how much human driven climate change influences extreme weather. According to Yan Boulanger, Research Scientist at Natural Resources Canada, and a report author:

“With the world having already warmed around 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1880s, global heating has doubled the chance of the extreme fire event witnessed this year in Canada.”

The study also showed that climate change made the long duration of the 2023 wildfires from early June to late August seven times more likely.

"The word 'unprecedented' doesn't do justice to the severity of the wildfires in Canada this year. From a scientific perspective, doubling the previous burned area record is shocking."

So, what’s an Alberta Premier to do in the face of such devastation?

In early August, Smith announced a pause on the approval of all renewable energy projects in Alberta for the next seven months.

Of course she did.

And later, on Aug. 25, while traumatized wildfire evacuees from Yellowknife were arriving in Alberta, her Minister of Affordability and Utilities issued another statement doubling down on the pause on renewable power project approvals.

Speculation is the second statement was rushed out in response to a report from the Pembina Institute. The clean energy think tank says “Alberta's pause on approvals for new renewable energy projects is affecting 118 projects worth $33 billion of investment.”

The report goes on to say those projects would create enough jobs to keep 24,000 people working for a year. In Minister Nathan Neudorf’s opinion, this is “misinformation being developed and released by interest groups.” According to the statement, which included a lengthy backgrounder:

“I am confident in this process and the clarity it is providing to our partners in the renewable energy space. I also want to reiterate that, throughout the inquiry, the AUC will continue to process applications up to the approval stage for new projects that produce renewable electricity. To be clear, no projects have been cancelled. Projects already underway will continue to be built. Jobs are not at risk.”

And then, this:

“Alberta has the most investor-friendly system in Canada for renewables and this pause will help set a regulatory standard for all projects to attain now and into the future.”

Meanwhile, the Premier has been insisting the pause was requested by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), and also recommended by the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA). But, as noted by The Canadian Press, both the AUC and the AESO’s letters to the government, referenced by Smith, don’t call for a moratorium.

The president of the RMA, Paul McLaughlin was interviewed a few days ago by Ryan Jespersen on Real Talk, an independent talk show, and although McLaughlin says he supports the pause, he denies his organization requested it.

The wind beneath Smith’s wings?

By the way, the only group taking credit for the moratorium is a small advocacy group called “Wind Concerns” opposed to wind turbines.

“We’re one of the organizations that has contributed to calling for this six-month moratorium on approvals,” says Mark Mallett, a founder of the Elk Point-based advocacy group.

According to reporting from Desmog, “Mallett of Wind Concerns is a former CTV News Edmonton journalist turned Catholic singer, evangelist and author."

"Wind Concerns cites on its website the CO2 Coalition, the Global Warming Policy Foundation, the Heartland Institute and other groups that have spent years, at times with the funding of oil and gas companies and rightwing billionaires, attempting to discredit and undermine the scientific consensus on climate change."

Not going there

For her part, Smith was in Banff on Aug. 24 speaking to the folksy audience at the Canadian Energy Executive Association. You may remember them as Oilmen’s Business Forum, since they only changed their name in 2016. A real progressive bunch.

She was quick to reassure them by quoting their own words back to them (as she explains in this video clip).

"We don't need a just transition in Alberta because we don't intend to transition away from oil and gas."

As mentioned by the CBC: “Alberta producers are reducing the amount of greenhouse gases they emit during production, although she (Smith) didn't mention that production only represents about 20 per cent of the carbon released by a barrel of oil.”

Smith is particularly keen on listening to fossil fuel executives. When questioned in July about a secret report from an advisory panel tasked with developing a long-term vision for Alberta’s energy future, Smith defended herself by saying, “…of course I’m going to take advice from CEOs. Who else am I going to take advice from?”

Just to be totally clear, Danielle Smith is prepared to force – Albertans, Canadians, everyone affected by climate change really – to carry a limping fossil fuel industry on their backs into the flaming hot sunset.

Speaking of flaming hot

My terrifically talented trans sibling, Shane Onyou, has been picked to be one of the Calgary Pride Parade Grand Marshalls and the whole family couldn’t be prouder.

Shane is a frequent photo subject of mine, so here are a few shots to end the post on a Happy Pride note this week.