Saturday, November 29, 2008

IBEW Local 2067 Encouraged by Bruce Power Feasibility Study Findings

For Immediate Release

REGINA Nov 27th - IBEW Local 2067 expressed their strong support for Bruce Power's feasibility study release today identifying a possible role for nuclear in Saskatchewan's energy future. A facility could create 1000 jobs for 60 years and reduce greenhouse gases. The facility would generate thousands of jobs in the construction phase as well not to mention the spin-off jobs throughout our province.

"As Saskatchewan continues to grow and prosper so will our need for clean electricity. Developing a nuclear option for the province is good for jobs, security of supply and our environment" said Neil Collins, IBEW Local 2067 Business Manager.

The report provides the people of Saskatchewan a clear sense of the viability of the nuclear option.

"We support Bruce Power's approach to being open and transparent and look forward to further dialogue with them on the nuclear option" The nuclear option has the opportunity to work in unison with SaskPower’s decision of utilizing clean coal technology on the existing coal fleet to lessen the impact of our environmental footprint" added Collins.

For additional information contact:

Neil Collins
Buisness Manager & Financial Secretary
I.B.E.W Local 2067
(306) 352-1433
http://www.ibew2067.com/

Read the news release from Bruce Power

Read the news release from the Government of Saskatchewan

Sides weigh in on nuclear power in Sask.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Leader of UFCW Canada points to "EI Solution" for pension crisis

Wayne Hanley, the leader of Canada’s largest private sector union says some of the EI surplus of $52 billion should be used immediately to safeguard workers’ pension plans battered by the meltdown of the credit crisis.

“The Employment Insurance contributions paid by workers built up that surplus and continue to,” says Hanley, the National President of UFCW Canada.

“Now use that surplus, as well as a portion of future EI premiums to help workers’ pension plans weather the financial crisis and to improve the funding of those plans.”

Even before the onset of the current dive in the stock market, in the first quarter of 2008 alone the asset base of workers’ pension plans eroded by more than $100 billion. As a result, many plans have been put in jeopardy, or have fallen below the level of assets required under statutory requirements. The result could mean a cutback in what pensioners were expected to receive, or a massive hit to employers to infuse more cash to bring pension fund assets back up to required levels, or both.

Read More from UFCW HERE

Thursday, November 20, 2008

ACTION ALERT: Re-negotiate NAFTA now!

Governments and big business have spent the last 15 years telling us that free trade is good for us. But Canadians know better. The Council of Canadians has found that 61% of Canadians agree that NAFTA should be renegotiated to include enforceable labour and environmental standards.

Why?

Legislation threatens talks

Angela Hall, Leader-PostPublished: Tuesday, November 18, 2008

"So far what we've seen from the employer's perspective is about 95 per cent of the employees within CUPE's jurisdiction being declared essential at this point," he said, as he was joined by representatives from the Service Employees International Union (SEIUWEST) and the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union.

Read More From Hall HERE

Province's approach essentially flawed

List of essential services still being compiled

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Plans on track for Bruce plant

Joanne Paulson, Saskatchewan News Network; Canwest News ServicePublished: Saturday, November 15, 2008

SASKATOON -- A Saskatchewan nuclear power plant would contribute $4 billion to the economy and generate 20,000 direct jobs during its construction, the president and CEO of Bruce Power told a business crowd in Saskatoon Friday.

Duncan Hawthorne said the plant would cost $8 to $10 billion in total to build, and ultimately employ 1,000 people full-time, many of those university graduates. It would also contribute about $240 million annually to the provincial economy. "We're talking about a very, very significant impact to Saskatchewan's economy."

Bruce Power, the private operator of nuclear plants in Ontario, is on track to complete its feasibility study on nuclear power in Saskatchewan by the end of this year, Hawthorne said. The company announced that it would embark on the study in June.

Read More From Joanne HERE

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Scientists say a rock can soak up carbon dioxide

By Timothy Gardner

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A rock found mostly in Oman can be harnessed to soak up the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide at a rate that could help slow global warming, scientists say.

When carbon dioxide comes in contact with the rock, peridotite, the gas is converted into solid minerals such as calcite.


Geologist Peter Kelemen and geochemist Juerg Matter said the naturally occurring process can be supercharged 1 million times to grow underground minerals that can permanently store 2 billion or more of the 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide emitted by human activity every year

Read More HERE

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Obama Wins Election


Senator Barack Obama with his wife, Michelle, and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. with his wife, Jill, in Chicago on Tuesday night. More Photos >
By ADAM NAGOURNEY Published: November 4, 2008
Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.
Read More From Adam HERE

Taking pills? Avoid the juice

Sharon Kirkey , Canwest News ServicePublished: Tuesday, August 19, 2008

A leading Canadian researcher is warning people about taking their daily dose of prescription pills with orange or apple juice - nearly 20 years after his earlier caution about grapefruit juice prompted sticker warnings on drug vials.

David Bailey and colleagues announced to a startled - and skeptical - medical world in 1991 that grapefruit juice can boost the amount of certain drugs absorbed into the bloodstream two- to threefold, turning normal doses into potentially toxic overdoses. Today, nearly 50 drugs carry labels warning about the so-called Grapefruit Juice Effect.

Now, in another surprise discovery, Bailey is reporting that grapefruit juice - as well as orange and apple juice - also appears to do the opposite by substantially lowering the absorption of certain other drugs, including certain antibiotics and drugs used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease

Read More From Sharon HERE

Monday, November 3, 2008

Ont. government opposes two possible new nuclear reactors from Bruce Power

Allison Jones, THE CANADIAN PRESS 31 October 2008 18:31:00

TORONTO - Proposed plans by Bruce Power to build two new nuclear reactors on the shores of Lake Erie met with strong opposition from the Ontario government Friday.

The only private nuclear generating company in Canada will conduct an environmental assessment as it considers building two reactors at the former Stelco lands in Nanticoke in southwestern Ontario.

Read More from Jones HERE