A big natural gas project generates plenty of hot air. Water technology professionals are aware of changes to local standards. And those embarrassing fans of Coronation Street are talking up Halifax’s embracing of the show. It’s an eclectic day on the web for Metro, and full links to these items are below.
IT’S A GAS, GAS, GAS
from Toronto, Chicago and Calgary
Apparently the Deep Panuke natural gas field off Nova Scotia’s coast is a big deal. When government officials gave a tentative go-ahead to the EnCana corporation’s plan to develop the field, the news spread fast. Although this particular approval is just the latest hoop, rather than the green light, it is forward progress on a deal valued at $700 million, which might explain why such organizations as the Toronto Star, Calgary Sun and Chicago-based Resource Investor are interested. Not interested enough to cover the story with original reporting, mind you, but interested enough to run the Canadian Press’s item. According to that CP story, a report from Linda Garber to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board endorses part of EnCana’s plan:
Garber accepted EnCana’s development plans, including a proposal to reinject sulphur dioxide from the natural gas project into nearby undersea wells 250 kilometres southeast of Halifax. Garber said she can’t recommend approval of the benefits plan as outlined by EnCana, however.
She noted that a separate deal, the Offshore Strategic Energy Agreement between the province and the company, doesn’t always conform with the benefits plan and definitions the board usually uses.
The government’s deal with EnCana requires 850,000 of the 1.35 million hours of work involved be assigned to “Nova Scotia person hours.” (see the story as it ran in the Star, the Sun or Resource Investor)
See, we’d get over half of the person hours of work, so it must be a great deal.
WATER DOESN’T GROW ON TREES
from Latham (New York)
When the province’s Department of Environment and Labour announced new water standards five years ago, the starting date of April 2008 must have seemed the distant future. And it’s easy to procrastinate on things in the distant future. How easy? Apparently it’s really fucking easy, because now that the water standards have to be met in less than a year, Halifax’s water commission is asking for an extension. This all-too typical local story caught the attention of Water Technology, the magazine and website “written for those who know the water treatment business. Over 19,000 professionals rely on our monthly magazine to help them run more profitable dealerships.” (WT’s article, which references a CBC item, is here.) If you receive 19,000 pieces of junk mail advising you to hire a water treatment professional to do the job the water commission can’t, you know who to thank.
IN CYBERSPACE NOBODY CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM
from the blogosphere
With notorious spectral rape victim Peter Duffy happily covering the Coronation Street beat for the local monarchist daily, I’ve always known the TV show is something to be avoided like British dentists. However, as surely as the Herald continues to print, there are pockets of rabid Coronation Street fandom. One of these is apparently in Thunder Bay, home of the Corrie Canuck blog, “A luvly wee ‘ome where Canadian fans of Coronation Street can come ter sit hammer and tack wiv a cuppa and rant and rave about the gahn ons on Corrie Street.” As if that’s not horrifying enough, Halifax gets dragged into a recent CC post as an example to be emulated:
Last summer I attended a Corrie get together (called a Pingfest) in Nova Scotia. Folks got together at a local restaurant and had a bite to eat and a “pint” or a “cuppa” and played a few games like Corrie Pingo, a Corrie Quiz, 50/50 draw, etc. They also watched the Sunday feed of Coronation Street on CBC and discussed the storyline. Pingfests in Halifax are held about 4 times a year. (story here)
Scarier than a horny ghost.
Fans of Halifax, send Metro mentions you find on the web here.
This article appears in May 3-9, 2007.
