Stephen Harper is the current Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister Harper has drawn criticism and controversy over his views on environment and energy issues.
Here is a summary of our news and analysis of Prime Minister Stephen Harper:
The Day a Federal Panel Overruled B.C. — And Nobody Noticed
On the afternoon of Dec. 19th, as the National Energy Board’s recommendations on Enbridge’s oil tanker and pipeline proposal for B.C. were released, I tuned into CBC Newsworld and CTV News Network to see the coverage unfold live.
Canadian Taxpayers Fund Harper’s $65,000 Keystone XL Advertising Trip
The hotel rental for Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s September visit to New York City cost Canadian taxpayers a total of $65,582.91 according to documents recently released by CTV News.
Harper's Office Backpedals After Banning Journalist From PM's Malaysia Trip
This past weekend David Ellis, a CTV photo journalist with 28 years' experience, boarded a plane bound for Malaysia with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Standing Up for Science in Harperland
These days, I am beginning to think that George Orwell was the greatest whistleblower of all time. After all, it was Orwell who lifted the curtain on how the end of free thought was creeping across western democracies. In the end, stripped of the very language needed to form ideas, future citizens would be shuddering under a government colossus whose most efficient agency was the Thought Police.
Indigenous Rights are…Hey Look! A Panda!
Yesterday hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians stood on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to greet the Nishiyuu walkers – a group of First Nations marchers who have gathered along the 1500 kilometre route between Whapmagoostui in Quebec's James Bay Treaty area and the nation's capital.
How the Harper Government Fuelled the Anti-Keystone XL Movement
As the Obama administration revisits its decision on whether to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, DeSmog Canada decided to take a look at how the project became a cause célèbre.
"Stephen Harper Hates Science": Federal Scientists Muzzled to Protect Tar Sands Reputation
The Canadian government is working hard behind the scenes to cover up the negative effects that tar sands extraction is having on the local environment, wildlife, communities and the global climate. According toAccess to Information documents obtained by Postmedia's Mike De Souza, the Harper government has actively suppressed the release of vital information regarding the spread of tar sands contamination by muzzling federal scientists.
"Big Oil's Oily Grasp": Polaris Institute Documents Harper Government Entanglement with Tar Sands Lobby
Oil industry lobbyists in Canada have taken the country by the reins. At least, that's the implication of thePolaris Institute's new report released today. The report, "Big Oil's Oily Grasp – The Making of Canada as a Petro-State and How Oil Money is Corrupting Canadian Politics," (pdf) documents 2,733 meetings held between the oil industry and federal government officials since 2008. That figure outstrips meetings with environmental organizations by a whopping 463 percent.
Friends with Benefits: The Harper Government, EthicalOil.org and Sun Media Connection
Just over a week before the Northern Gateway Pipeline hearings began, EthicalOil.org and its allies launched a pre-emptive PR offensive on environmental and First Nations groups who oppose the pipeline. Their new website, OurDecision.ca, and ad campaign are an attempt to invalidate opposition to the pipeline by pointing to the small amount of American funding going to some environmental groups, and claiming that pipeline opponents are actually the “puppets” of “foreign interests.”
Rush to Ratify: FIPA May Violate Constitutional Protection of First Nations Rights
The Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) may be ratified as soon as tomorrow, November 1. This despite a massive demonstration of Canadian opposition to the investment trade deal that will lock the federal government into a dangerously undemocratic agreement with China and Chinese investors for 31 years.
