Canada General Discussion: Trudeau II

[DINGO Joe]

Throwing this in here because it Canadian:

Last year Saskatchewan unveiled the Boundary Dam CO2 captured power plant.  It was expensive, $1.5B loonies for 110MW of coal generated power (10x the NG CC generation could be built for that price tag), but it is the cutting edge of technology for coal to possibly be environmentally friendly and there was a unique situation were the CO2 could be sold for oil recovery purposes.  The plant won all the "new plant of the year" awards and the Sask government including Premier Bruce Wall touted the plant running at 90% efficiency.  

Unfortunately, that 90% efficiency only refers to when the plant has been running, and due to a myriad of problems the plant has only run 45% of the time in the last year.  90% of 45% means it really capturing 40% of the CO2 it was expect to.  Since there was an agreement to sell the CO2 to an oil company named Cenovus and SaskPower hasn't been able to meet their contractual obligations they have had to pay fines to Cenovus.  

Power Magazine Article

Local Newspaper

Lots of other Canadian articles available on the issue.  Looks like there will be lots of lawsuits and pointing of fingers over the various mechanical issues at the plant.  And really, given what is happening in the US at Edwardsport and Kemper, it shouldn't be a surprise that there were problems, though the magnitude and ability to keep problems under wrap for so long is surprising.

The one question I haven't seen asked, given that the government and power executives all say that problems should be expected in the first year of a cutting edge plant like this, is why didn't they negotiate that into the contract with Cenovus?  I mean if it was all expected, why commit to a contract and fines when you expect in advance there to be a problem meeting that commitment?

As a footnote, Premier Wall is supposed to be part of the Canadian delegation that goes to Paris for the Climate talks.  I'm sure he'll have a lovely booth.

[King of Kensington]

Any predictions re: Trudeau's Cabinet?

[RogueBeaver]

Robert Falcon-Ouelette won't be in it.

Goodale doesn't go back to Finance. Sean Casey gets Justice.

[Hash]

The full cabinet list:

Justin Trudeau (Quebec) - Prime Minister, Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth.
Ralph Goodale (Saskatchewan) - Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Lawrence MacAulay (P.E.I.) - Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Stéphane Dion (Quebec) - Foreign Affairs.
John McCallum (Ontario) - Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees.
Carolyn Bennett (Ontario) - Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
Scott Brison (Nova Scotia) - Treasury Board President.
Dominic Leblanc (New Brunswick) - Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Navdeep Bains (Ontario) - Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Bill Morneau (Ontario) - Finance Minister.
Jody Wilson-Raybould (B.C.) - Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Judy Foote (Newfoundland and Labrador) - Public Services and Procurement.
Chrystia Freeland (Ontario) - International Trade.
Jane Philpott (Ontario) - Health.
Jean-Yves Duclos (Quebec) - Families, Children and Social Development.
Marc Garneau (Quebec) - Transport.
Marie-Claude Bibeau (Quebec) - International Development and La francophonie.
Jim Carr (Manitoba) - Natural Resources.
Mélanie Joly (Quebec) - Heritage.
Diane Lebouthillier (Quebec) - National Revenue.
Kent Hehr (Alberta) - Veterans Affairs, and Associate Minister of National Defence.
Catherine McKenna (Ontario) - Environment and Climate Change.
Harjit Sajjan (B.C.) - National Defence.
MaryAnn Mihychuck (Manitoba) - Employment Workforce Development and Labour.
Amarjeet Sohi (Alberta) - Infrastructure and Communities.
Maryam Monsef (Ontario) - Democratic Institutions.
Carla Qualtrough (B.C.) - Sport, and Persons with Disabilities.
Hunter Tootoo (Nunavut) - Fisheries and Oceans, and Canadian Coastguard.
Kirsty Duncan (Ontario) - Science.
Patricia Hajdu (Ontario) - Status of Women.
Bardish Chagger (Ontario) - Small Business and Tourism.

[King of Kensington]

Certainly the most diverse Cabinet we've ever seen. 

[Crumpets]

Certainly the most diverse Cabinet we've ever seen. 

Also half women.

[Hash]

The long-form census will be back in time for next year's census. RIP FREEDUMB / RIP MUH PRIVACY

[RogueBeaver]

Keystone rejected.

[DC Al Fine]

NS Environment minister Andrew Younger has been expelled from the Liberal caucus. He failed to appear as a witness in the assault trial of the staffer he was having an affair with. The woman allegedly assaulted him after he broke up with her when he was named to cabinet.

[Simfan34]

Can someone explain why the long form census was such a big deal?

[RogueBeaver]

So this just happened.

[andrew_c]

Can someone explain why the long form census was such a big deal?

The long form census provides important demographic data that is often used to shape major decisions at all levels of government, most notably taxes and spending.  Voluntary census forms, which replaced the long form census, do not provide accurate data for governments, since they are voluntary.  That makes policy crafting a challenge.  There were also accusations that Harper scrapped the long form census in order to muzzle Statistics Canada.

[RogueBeaver]

Den Tandt: Mulcair should quit. Names Cullen, Boulerice, Brosseau as potential successors.

[2952-0-0]

Ruth Ellen Brosseau: from Carleton University bartender to Prime Minister in eight years.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Brosseau is a badass but she's too young. Mulcair is probably fine where he is for now.

[RogueBeaver]

Good articles on the refugee issue.

[King of Kensington]

Can someone explain why the long form census was such a big deal?

Municipalities, social service agencies, business etc. want reliable data.  If it's voluntary, it's hard to say how accurate the data really is.  Statscan suppressed the data for many smaller municipalitie.

About half a dozen people in the country objected due to privacy concerns. 

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Why it's almost as if accurate data and ability to analyze the population is a key part of a modern society...

[RogueBeaver]

Upcoming First Ministers meeting, Trudeau audience with HMQ before CHOGM, meeting Obama at G20.



Evan Solomon gets the refugee planning scoop.

[RogueBeaver]

Excellent: Elections Alberta may deregister the Progressives.

[Njall]

Excellent: Elections Alberta may deregister the Progressives.

I'm told that part of the article was written in error; we have till Monday at 4:30 to file, and I'm told that all the documentation will be in.

[RogueBeaver]

Here in QC, Immigration will process 2700 refugee files by Dec. 18.

[2952-0-0]

Jason Kenney's Twitter diarrhea is so unprofessional. It's as if he doesn't accept the election results. If this sets the tone for the leadership race, the CPC will be lucky to hold 30% in 2019.

[RogueBeaver]

Mexican visa requirement will be lifted.

Wells' interview with the French ambassador.

Refugee airlift won't start for another week for logistical reasons, UN diplomats would privately prefer a slower timeline.

[RogueBeaver]

First group of refugees will arrive at Valcartier by Dec. 1. Meanwhile the feds have started looking for civilian winterized housing.