There isn’t a reputable economist that I know, nor a student in my benefit-cost class at SFU (that wants to pass) that does not understand the difference between economic impacts and real economic benefits. Nevertheless, industry lobbyists and all-too-many government officials never cease to point to economic impacts — the number of jobs a project [...]
Entries Tagged as 'mining'
Green in a Different Sense
October 2nd, 2009 · Marvin Shaffer · 2 Comments · Energy, Environment, resources & sustainability
It is all about marketing I suppose, but I still can’t believe the proponents of the Highway 37 Northwest electric transmission line labelling it a green initiative. The only thing green about it is all the money BC Hydro will lose if it goes ahead.
The proponents’ spin is that this transmission line will enable a [...]
Tags: BC Hydro·greenhouse gas·mining
Oh, about that recession …
April 27th, 2009 · Marc Lee · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Economy
BC’s recession started in 2008. That is the upshot of today’s release of Statistics Canada’s Provincial Economic Accounts, which provides the first estimates of BC’s GDP for 2008. Unlike national data, which are provided quarterly and on a timely basis, we have to wait about four months to tally the various provincial beans. These numbers [...]
Tags: Agriculture·budget·campaign·construction·deficit·exports·fishing·forestry·mining·oil and gas·recession·service cuts
Electricity Policy in BC: "Buy High – Sell Low"
February 20th, 2009 · Marvin Shaffer · No Comments · BC Election 2009, Economy, Energy
It was only a one-liner in the budget — the government plans to spend $10 million to advance the $400 million Northwest transmission line project along Highway 37, a project it says it will develop in partnership with the private sector. But this not-so-little initiative raises major questions about electricity policy (and sustainable economic [...]
