Why oil workers opposed Keystone XL

OTTAWA, Sept. 20, 2011 /CNW/ – Following a briefing for Members of Parliament, Canada’s largest energy workers’ union will hold a news conference on the Keystone XL pipeline: When: 10:30 […]

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Alberta ramps up inspections of residential worksites

Residential construction sites in Alberta are being targeted by occupational health and safety officers for surprise inspections during a month-long inspection blitz. “We launched a focused campaign on residential construction […]

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Residential building sites getting blitzed by inspectors

The current safety blitz under way by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety is a good step in making construction sites safer, but the province’s largest labour organization says a one-off […]

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Court backs Husky oil executive’s bid to get visas for his Nepalese servants

Since he left his native Nepal 13 years ago, Shyam Thapa Chhetri has spent his entire adult life working with his brother Shalik as domestic servants at the home of […]

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Inspection blitz puts Alberta homebuilders ‘on notice’: Labour leader criticizes advance notice to employers, calls for more frequent checkups

EDMONTON — The minister in charge of worker safety launched a month-long inspection blitz Monday, focusing on the province’s booming residential construction industry. This is the third and final inspection […]

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Inspection blitz to target home construction sites

Occupational health and safety officers will be targeting Alberta residential construction sites in a month-long inspection blitz to make sure workers and employers are following workplace safety rules. “There is […]

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Minister touched by plight of women who got pregnant hoping to stay in Canada

EDMONTON – Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk has stepped up his push to get permanent status for temporary foreign workers in Alberta after hearing of recent cases of abuse of some […]

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Federal Tories’ promise to restrict bitumen exports falls by wayside

The Harper government has quietly buried a controversial promise to ban bitumen exports to countries that are environmental laggards, as Alberta and the energy industry formalize plans to ship oilsands […]

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Western Canadian Energy Ministries “Collaborate” in Secret with Petroleum Cartel to Develop Fracking Policies

Vancouver – Through top-down deregulatory and environmental streamlining directives under the recently formed New West Partnership, the British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan Ministries of Energy (for oil and gas) held […]

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New West Partnership Includes CAPP Lobbyists in Fracking Policy Development

The British Columbia Ministry of Energy was designated a “lead agency” in a backroom collaboration with Alberta and Saskatchewan to address water concerns for the province’s rapidly expanding shale gas […]

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Why the NDP has it wrong on Keystone: Halting exports in favor of domestic jobs is disingenuous

To his credit, Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason has at least brought the increasingly cosmic debate over TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone expansion back to earth. Yesterday in the Calgary Herald, and […]

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Construction labour laws face major review: Province seeks changes to reduce costs

The Alberta government is quietly consulting with employers and unions about major changes to the labour laws that cover the province’s massive construction sector. Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk […]

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Alberta leaders put away partisan politics to honour Layton: Tributes pour in from across the province

EDMONTON — Alberta politicians celebrated Jack Layton’s legacy Monday, saluting his lifelong commitment to public service and his passionate defence of immigrant, vulnerable and working Canadians. The 61-year-old leader of […]

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AFL wants farm deaths to be investigated by OHS

Eight months ago, three farm workers died in Alberta. Because of the Alberta government’s rules on farm-related deaths, there has still been no investigation. The Alberta Federation of Labour says […]

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Environmentalists could undermine shale-gas plans, Alberta cabinet documents suggest

EDMONTON — Leaked Alberta cabinet documents suggest the province is worried environmental groups will undermine public support for shale gas development by spreading “misinformation” about health and environmental effects of […]

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Lukaszuk moves on workplace fairness

Alberta Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk is promising to make workplaces in the province fairer, cracking down on employers who fail to pay fair wages and benefits. Lukaszuk announced […]

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Sticking up for workers

New efforts by the province to stick up for workers who feel they are being treated unfairly by their employers is a welcome step. The province announced this week it […]

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Alberta takes steps to protect employees

An increasing number of workplace complaints has prompted the provincial government to hire more people to investigate employers across the province, a step that can only help Lethbridge workers, according […]

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Employment Standards bolsters staffing to address flood of online complaints

EDMONTON – A new online system for workers to report grievances against their employers has worked so well the province has been “flooded” with complaints to investigate, Employment and Immigration […]

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Canada needs a true national energy strategy: Slowing tar sands development smarter than unlimited extraction, shipment

When energy ministers from around the country gathered in Kananaskis recently, Alberta Energy Minister Ron Liepert billed the meeting as a potentially historic gathering at which politicians will begin long-overdue […]

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Alberta’s use of temporary foreign workers ‘shameful,’ says labour group: Many employers said to use guest-worker program as first choice, not last resort

Alberta employers are increasingly looking to temporary foreign workers (TFWs) to fill jobs despite long unemployment lines in other parts of Canada, according to the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL). […]

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Tory leadership contenders defend energy stimulus program: Labour group says $2.9 billion would have been better spent elsewhere

EDMONTON — Despite Alberta Federation of Labour claims the province blew $2.9 billion on drilling incentive programs that failed to create jobs or investment in the oilpatch, the Conservatives vying […]

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Canadian jobs lost down the pipeline

Last week U.S. lawmakers decided that President Barack Obama must make a decision sooner than he wanted to on construction of the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline, which would deliver […]

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‘Dubai of the North’ tag irks Alberta

CALGARY – Calling Alberta the “Dubai of the North” is insulting to the Arab city, says the provincial employment and immigration minister. Thomas Lukazsuk is reacting to a comment made […]

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