Selling Ourselves Short: A Discussion of Water-Markets in Alberta

The issue of water management has become one of increasing importance. Any new policy regarding resource management must balance the needs of the environment, the municipalities, and industry. In an effort to reconcile these needs this report will review the best-practices of water policy. Specifically, the reason for undertaking this report is to research policy options available to the Alberta government to provide a framework for improving the Water for Life strategy. One generalization that can be made across the spectrum of privatization models is that whenever a resource is labelled a commodity, the objective to sell it for a profit invariably undermines the aquatic ecology at the source. The report identifies a common practice where industrial entities pay for water on a sliding scale, (if they are made to pay anything at all) with bulk water purchases becoming cheaper as more water is consumed. By applying a conservation-orientated system to industrial users, the minimum amount of water is available, but heavy fees are to be assigned for exceeding the allotment. An industrial system resembling the conservation-orientated approach could also add an extra incentive to recycle water used for industrial purposes. A policy of conservation-orientated charging applied to both municipalities and industry offers the best aspects of water leases and conservation enforcement. Ultimately, the research finds that private ownership of water offers more detrimental than beneficial for the people of Alberta

Building Pressure: A Deliberative Argument against the Northern Gateway Pipeline

This is a rhetorical analysis comparing and contrasting the supposed benefits and likely consequences of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The issue of the Northern Gateway Pipeline is analyzed through the use of established rhetorical devices and appeals. The result of this rhetorical analysis finds the project to be a far greater liability than a benefit to the people of Alberta and British Columbia. The promises of job creation by Enbridge account for a small minority of the population being employed for a relatively short duration of time. Furthermore, the wealth generated by the pipeline project is not equally distributed back to the people of Alberta and British Columbia, respectively. Enbridge has also made dubious claims to “sustainable communities,” which amount to little more than large one time payments to charities and other organizations across North America.  Furthermore, there are findings that suggest health complications in those individuals employed in the oil industry