manitoba
Newsletter
Credit: Robson Machado/Pixabay
Manitoba's pipeline oversight faces scrutiny after recent shutdown
A recent pipeline shutdown has exposed significant gaps in Manitoba's oversight of its oil and gas industry, raising concerns about the province's regulatory practices.
In short:
- Manitoba has not updated its pipeline oversight policies despite an oil boom and calls for better practices.
- A recent pipeline shutdown revealed deficiencies in monitoring and staffing, with only 13 inspections in five years.
- Other provinces have improved oversight following critical reports, but Manitoba lags behind.
Key quote:
“This Imperial Oil incident has really highlighted some of the gaps, perhaps, in governmental oversight.”
— Tracy Schmidt, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change Minister
Why this matters:
Critics argue that this incident underscores the need for stronger regulatory practices to prevent such disruptions and protect the environment. The province’s current oversight mechanisms have been deemed insufficient to address the complexities and risks associated with oil and gas operations. Environmental advocates are particularly worried about the potential for oil spills and other ecological impacts that could arise from such regulatory failures.
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Credit: Leonid Ikan/Big Stock Photo
Neglected oil spills in Canadian little-known Canadian oilpatch go unpunished for years
Oil spills in Manitoba have gone unchecked for 16 years, with no fines or penalties issued for 6.5 million liters of leaked oil and saltwater.
In short:
- Manitoba has seen 6.5 million liters of oil and saltwater spill from pipelines since 2008, with no fines issued.
- The provincial government previously cut environmental oversight, leaving oil companies to self-regulate and report spills.
- Experts warn that this self-regulation model poses significant environmental and public health risks.
Key quote:
“It’s really a self-governance model where industry gets to mark its own homework.”
— Alan Andrews, lawyer with the environmental law charity EcoJustice.
Why this matters:
In rural Manitoba, where agriculture and natural resources play a crucial role in daily life, the impact of oil spills can be devastating. The leaked oil and saltwater can degrade soil quality, making it unsuitable for farming and contaminate water supplies, posing risks to both human health and wildlife. Despite these severe consequences, the lack of regulatory action highlights a troubling oversight in environmental governance.
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Unsplash+
Farmers are driving Canada’s latest carbon price debate
Manitoba’s farmers say carbon fees on grain drying and barn heating are cutting into their bottom line and getting in the way of efficiency upgrades, but environmental experts are warning against another hole in Canada’s flagship climate policy.
Photo by Josh Lavallee on Unsplash
Manitoba’s new environment minister has no related experience — again
Premier Wab Kinew followed the status quo last week by appointing a rookie MLA to the environment file, the sixth environment minister in Manitoba in seven years.
Photo by Mahesh Gupta on Unsplash
What the Manitoba election results mean for environment
The province will offer electric vehicle rebates and some homes will get free geothermal heating — but much remains to be seen about how the party will balance an affordability crisis with huge environmental issues.
‘Illegal’ mining claims discovered in park as Manitoba government pushes for exploration
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government has resisted calls to protect 30% of land by 2030, with the party instead promising to double mineral exploration.
Inside Manitoba parks, companies are racing to mine critical minerals
Less than a quarter of Manitoba’s parks are protected from industry. As companies race to dig up minerals deemed critical to a low-carbon economy, exploration for new mines is ramping up in provincial parks.
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