Updated: Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Deal "before too many questions", Libs & China, & Background

Update 2: Why is the Paul Martin government sending aid $$$ to China when China can afford to launch an ambitious space program?

Have Canadian taxpayers $$$ been greasing the wheels for some business interests in China -- without concern for the human rights of massive numbers of Chinese ruled with an iron hand by their authoritarian government? Note the technology in Canada that the Chinese have expressed an interest in; then read this and think.

Chinese Takeout? Posted 10/13/2005

[. . . . ] In its annual report to Congress in 2003, the Pentagon noted China's robust R&D program for anti-satellite laser weapons and that such a weapon could pose a threat to U.S. satellites by 2010.

Captain Shen Zhong of China's Navy Research Institute recently said: "The mastery of outer space will be requisite for military victory, with outer space becoming the new venue for combat." [. . . . ]

Update 1: via Jack's Newswatch Oct. 14, 05, which leads to Real Clear Politics: What is China Up to in the Western Hemisphere? By Alvaro Vargas Llosa

A growing Chinese presence in Latin America is causing a stir across the hemisphere. Top Chinese officials visit the area frequently. In the last five years, overall trade between China and Latin America has increased 900 percent. In 2004, nearly half of China’s direct investment overseas, almost $20 billion, went to Latin America. Guided tours in places like Machu Picchu are now also offered in Chinese. Former U.S. ambassador in Bolivia Manuel Rocha recently remarked, “Your children may have to start learning Mandarin … if you wish to see them involved in business in the Americas.” [. . . . ]

The Liberals' China syndrome National Post, Garvey, Oct. 14, 05 -- Worth reading.




Kitimat to be Enbridge terminal


"Liberals wanted this deal done before too many questions were asked"

Just read it; it is not subscriber-only content.

Secrecy around sale of Prince Rupert terminal arouses suspicions Vancouver Sun, Oct. 14, 05

The problem with secrecy is that it suggests there is something to hide. That's why the cloak of mystery cast over the proposed sale of Ridley Terminals Inc., a $250-million state-of-the-art bulk handling facility at the Port of Prince Rupert, is so unsettling.

Canadian taxpayers financed the building of Ridley Terminals, designed to load up to 16 million metric tons of coal a year from trains onto ships for delivery to foreign markets, and have every right to know who the bidders were, the name of the winner, full details of the winning proposal and why it won, and the financial terms of the transaction.

Search:

Vancouver Sun's Peter O'Neill pried the identity of the "preferred bidder" out

Transport Minister Jean Lapierre

What Fortune and Federal White Cement have in common is George Michael Doumet, a Lebanese businessman

why did a proposal from a consortium of coal producers

Why has Ottawa ordered that Ridley management not




Background & More

Scroll down this Frost Hits the Rhubarb post from January 17, 2005 for more on Ridley Terminal and other issues -- perhaps related, perhaps not. Decide for yourself.

Business as Usual & Some Background -- BC Rail, LNG, Oil, Ports, Privatization, Prince Rupert, Various Stakeholders, Basi's Boys-Laundering & More

Table of Contents only; link for the posts.

* Deal signed for new Prince Rupert port facilities (Dec. 13, 04)
* WestPac used to be North American Tungsten Corp Ltd -- NTC on the Vancouver Stock Exchange -- gold and precious metals
* Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. (“TGVI”) and WestPac Terminals have been in competition
* The Competition: Letter Re: Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. (“TGVI”) -- June 2004 Resource Plan Filing Certificate of Public Convinience and Necessity Application -- Enbridge "Gateway project and it expects to reach preliminary supply deals with refineries in China" -- Enbridge eyes $2.5 billion pipeline deal for 2005 (13 Dec 2004)
* 'Big things' in store for Prince Rupert -- "un-named investor" -- Husky Energy Inc. * Jackie Jura: Husky oil
* Enbridge May Offer China Oil-Sands Pipeline Stake -- Terasen (formerly North American Tungsten Corp Ltd), Husky's Tucker and Sunrise mentioned

* Any connections? PM, BC Rail Privatization, Basi's Boys, Rail line to Fort Nelson, Omnitrax, Prince Rupert-Superport, Privatization-Foreign Interests-BC, Enbridge-Terasen-Husky Oil

* HUSKY OIL TO SPEND MILLIONS ON WHITE ROSE OIL FIELD
* Link to "DIVERSIFICATION UNDERWAY AT PORT OF PRINCE RUPERT" (2001)
* Huge $200m gas project hits ‘critical milestone’ December 13, 2004
* Quebec begins major LNG project
* "Ridley Terminals, a federal Crown corporation" -- financing mentioned
* Enbridge of Calgary, a part owner of Gaz Metropolitain -- Gaz de France -- WestPac has agreement with Ridley Terminals, a federal Crown Corporation
* Jackie Jura: Husky ranks among Canada's top producers of crude oil, natural gas and recovered sulfur.
* Better bet for B.C. -- Oil sands pipelines, LNG terminals hold more immediate promise than offshore oil and gas development; Enbridge, Terasen in tight race -- Is Ridley Island owned by the federal Crown Corp's Ridley Terminals
* Petroleum News: Forecasting a Mackenzie gas footprint -- Arctic environmental watchdog reviews possible scope of gas exploration, development and pipelines in Northwest Territories
* Venezuela's Chavez pledges support for Chinese oil exploration
* Super port concept will not benefit city, Krusel -- Prince Rupert
* Philanthropy of the highest order, indeed. What does philanthropy buy?
* Tycoon to create $1.2B charity -- Hong Kong tycoon selling CIBC stake -- Money to help less fortunate Canadians

* An Aside: How does all this fit together? Observations and Questions

* Operation Everywhichway

* An Aside Continued: How does all this fit together? Observations and Questions

* A Province for Sale? As B.C. assets shift into foreign hands, some see a big cost: Ability to chart our own economic future -- Terasen used to be BC Gas -- mentions Kicking Horse Canyon upgrade, the Golden Ears Bridge, the Okanagan Lake Crossing, the RAV line, the Sea to Sky Highway upgrade and the Sierra Yoyo Desan Road -- American Accenture, COPE, foreign owners

* Link to "Public Versus Private Ownership and Operation of Airports and Seaports in Canada "

* Who Paid for Liberal Party Memberships in BC? Basi's boys' "influence was largely based on being able to bring in the Indo-Canadian vote" for Paul Martin and his Liberals

* Raiding the BC Legislature
Two former B.C. gov't aides charged -- mentions B.C. Rail, Fort Nelson, Tumbler Ridge
* Have you had enough yet?
* "Who allegedly bought influence?" -- These indictments allege corruption of major government deals. So why the big yawn?
* Link for the "BC Basis' Boys" Section: RCMP-Drugs-Maine-NB Border-Organized Crime, Charges Laid-BC-Basi's Boys & PM's Organizers, Worthington-Sharia-Canada, Arafat's Investments
* Port of Prince Rupert -- mentions "Direct access to CN Rail's high capacity northern mainline and the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway"

All the above articles (with their links to the original articles) after that list are accessible with this link, as well: Business as Usual & Some Background -- BC Rail, LNG, Oil, Ports, Privatization, Prince Rupert, Various Stakeholders, Basi's Boys-Laundering & More

---