What’s that they say about the first casualty of war? You can obviously say the same for Canadian elections.

Solidifying the country's reputation as a "true petrostate," the government of Canada reportedly spent millions of taxpayer dollars on previously undisclosed tar sands lobbying activities, including a concerted push to 'educate' First Nations communities opposed to the toxic drilling projects.

Since her common-sense quip that most of Canada’s tar sands reserves will have to stay in the ground, Linda McQuaig has been vilified by much of the political establishment and (rightfully) defended by a minority of voices in the media.

CORNER BROOK, N.L. – The general council of one of Canada’s largest churches has voted to drop fossil fuels from its investment portfolios, with advocates for the motion saying the decision is based on the Christian duty to care for the earth.

Commissioners attending the United Church of Canada’s general council in Corner Brook, N.L., voted 67 per cent in favour Tuesday to divest the industry from its treasury assets and to shift the $5.9 million from the portfolio into green renewable energy ventures.

A new study co-authored by six British Columbia First Nations warns that a proposed terminal for exporting liquefied natural gas on the province’s northern coast poses a threat to salmon habitat in the Skeena River estuary.

The research argues Pacific NorthWest LNG’s planned terminal on Lelu Island will harm Flora Bank, where juvenile salmon are nurtured by eelgrass beds. Flora Bank, a sandy area that is visible at low tide, is next to the proposed LNG site near Prince Rupert.

Alliance Pipeline has shut down a natural gas pipeline in Western Canada after poisonous hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas got into the system.

The Calgary-based energy company said Friday it has told companies feeding the pipeline to stop while corrective measures are taken.

The shutdown will continue for an "indeterminate amount of time," Alliance said in a news release. 

Alliance said the hydrogen sulphide entered the pipeline in Alberta and was stopped when it reached southeastern Saskatchewan.

Gas to be flared off

A group of B.C. environmentalists is about to have its day in court in a high-profile case against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Beginning in Vancouver on August 12, the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), an oversight body, will begin hearing a February 2014 complaint that alleges CSIS illegally spied on activists and First Nations people.