Comments on: Foreign influence on Canadian energy and environmental policy: A request for some balance

By: Foreign Ownership also puts lie to Ethical Oil « Deathical Oil

Foreign Ownership also puts lie to Ethical Oil « Deathical Oil — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:43:02 +0000

[...] George Hoberg’s blog: http://greenpolicyprof.org/wordpress/?p=708 Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Tagged: Foreign Ownership [...]

By: Colin N

Colin N — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:48:47 +0000

I’m sure, if it was possible to go deeper and look at the identies of the investors (owners/shareholders) of all petroleum producers (Canadian and foreign), the foreign ownership % would be even higher than 35.3% – so-called Canadian Companies like Suncor, etal, are owned by shareholders, looking for growth of capital and dividends – many of their shareholders will be individual and institutions outside Canada, hence those so-called Canadian companies are motivated by those shareholders. And that foreign ownership is constantly growing.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:56:03 +0000

George, I note with interest the last sentence of your article.

It is not remarkable whatsoever that media are focused on environmental groups instead of oil companies. Oil companies are entirely predictable because all they ever try to do is make money. They are inherently simple organizations to understand. Their behaviour is frankly boring and does not warrant much in the way of media attention.

Environmental groups, however, are far more erratic. They are vastly more complex organisms and are often highly unpredictable at the operational level. Their limited funds, shifting mandates and occasional bouts of activism make them far more worthy of media attention.

I dont think Krause et al are trying to say that oil companies are whiter than white, just that ENGOs sometimes have a few skeletons in the closet too.

By: Pressure Rising on Both Sides of Northern Gateway Oil Sands Pipeline: December 2011 Update | GreenPolicyProf

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:11:26 +0000

[...] by highlighting the significant role played by foreign corporations in the oil sands in a previous blog and [...]

By: Jeff Lewis

Jeff Lewis — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:20:11 +0000

Good analysis. Leaving aside Suncor, CNRL and a smattering of junior outfits, much of the development in and around Fort McMurray is being steered by American-headquartered multinationals.

But the dearth of Canadian ownership you bring up is hardly unique to the oil sands. As Canadians we seem to excel at selling our best and brightest to the highest (and sometimes the lowest) bidder around. See: Inco, Falconbridge, Dofasco, Stelco, Algoma Steel, MacMillan-Bloedel, Molson, Alcan, Ipsco, Gulf Canada, Newbridge Networks, Poco Petroleums and Masonite.

Not sure what the end-game is here. But a worrying trend all the same.

By: Michele Patterson

Michele Patterson — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:54:47 +0000

Nice to see your thoughts on this point George. I hope you’re doing well.

Michele

By: Duncan Kinney

Duncan Kinney — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:03:20 +0000

In a perfect world we’d have a breakdown on just how much these foreign owned companies oil had spent on media campaigns and lobbying as well. I reckon the numbers would dwarf those on the other side.

At the very least it might be interesting poking around the various lobbyist registries. Does BC have one?

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:32:56 +0000

What Ms. Krause conveniently ignores or forgets, is that fact that when it comes to Northern Gateway it is not “Canada’s natural resources”, they are in fact First Nations’ – as the majority of the pipeline and tanker route cross unceded lands and waters. The ENGOs are simply supporting the position of the First Nations that are opposed to the project. So the question of where the funds come from to stop this project and protect our lands and waters, may be a moot point. But the racist/condescending undertones seem to always be that First Nations are somehow being used by or taken advantage of by ENGOs and US foundations. The fact is that the majority of First Nations took their position more than 6 years ago, long before ENGOs or US funders became active on Gateway.