Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
Mon May 5, 2014, 11:37 AM May 2014

Koch Brothers Are The Largest Foreign Lease Holder of Canadian Oil Sands

Funding think tanks, the Koch's are poised to influence debate on oil policy and shift the social fabric of Canada.

May 5, 14

Bio

Linda Solomon Wood is publisher and editor-in-chief of The Vancouver Observer, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news site with a readership across Canada and the United States.
Transcript
Koch Brothers Are The Largest Foreign Lease Holder of Canadian Oil SandsSHARMINI PERIES, TRNN PRODUCER: This is The Real News Network. I'm Sharmini Peries in Baltimore.

Last week on the Canadian panel, we talked about Canada's shift to the right. This week we're looking at some evidence of this, mainly the Koch brothers' reach into Canada. The Washington Post recently reported that the Koch brothers hold the largest foreign leases on oil sands, but not only.

To discuss this and more we're joined by Linda Solomon Wood. Linda Solomon Wood is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Vancouver Observer, a national, daily, independent, award-winning news site with a readership across Canada and the United States.

Thank you for joining us, Linda.

LINDA SOLOMON WOOD, PUBLISHER, THE VANCOUVER OBSERVER: Thank you, Sharmini.

PERIES: So, Linda, how is the Canadian landscape changing as a result of Koch brothers spreading their wings over Canada?

SOLOMON WOOD: Yes, they are one of the region's largest leaseholders, rivaled only by Shell and perhaps Canadian Natural Resources company. They are thought to have at least 1.1 million acres in the tar sands. And some industry insiders speculate that they actually have 2 million, but the Alberta government has confirmed the 1.1 million number. So that makes them the largest foreign owners of tar sands land.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11815
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Koch Brothers Are The Largest Foreign Lease Holder of Canadian Oil Sands (Original Post) Jefferson23 May 2014 OP
Hence the need for the Kochstone XL pipeline. KansDem May 2014 #1
^^^^ handmade34 May 2014 #2
Squeeze Incorporated, yep. n/t Jefferson23 May 2014 #7
Thanks for this excellent article. polly7 May 2014 #3
Thank you, polly. +1 Jefferson23 May 2014 #5
Wow. The Harper government is auditing environmental charities specifically. hedda_foil May 2014 #4
Infuritating..it does not ever seem to have a limit. n/t Jefferson23 May 2014 #6
And a major shareholder in the DLC/Turd Way Doctor_J May 2014 #8
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ blkmusclmachine May 2014 #9
Always. n/t Jefferson23 May 2014 #10

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
1. Hence the need for the Kochstone XL pipeline.
Mon May 5, 2014, 11:41 AM
May 2014

You didn't really believe it's about jobs for Americans and more oil for Americans (meaning lower gas prices)?

polly7

(20,582 posts)
3. Thanks for this excellent article.
Mon May 5, 2014, 11:56 AM
May 2014

I always add this older one, when I see mention of the Koch/Canadian connection. They've been here for a long, long time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3006889

Koch Brothers' Activism Protects Their 50 Years in Canadian Heavy Oils

By David Sassoon at InsideClimate
Thu May 10, 2012 4:30am EDT

Long involvement in Canada's tar sands has been central to Koch Industries' evolution and positions the billionaire brothers for a new oil boom.

By David Sassoon, InsideClimate News

Over the last decade, Charles and David Koch have emerged into public view as billionaire philanthropists pushing a libertarian brand of political activism that presses a large footprint on energy and climate issues. They have created and supported non-profit organizations, think tanks and political groups that work to undermine climate science, environmental regulation and clean energy. They are also top donors to politicians, most of them Republicans, who support the oil industry and deny any human role in global warming.

What is less well documented are the many Koch businesses that benefit from the brothers' efforts to push the center of American political discourse rightward, closer to their own convictions. At the top of the list are the Koch family's long and deep investments in Canada's heavy oil industry, which have been central to the company's initial growth and subsequent diversification since 1959.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/idUS427145980520120510





hedda_foil

(16,368 posts)
4. Wow. The Harper government is auditing environmental charities specifically.
Mon May 5, 2014, 11:59 AM
May 2014

They even put extra funds in the budget to scrutinize the legality of those charities.

Meanwhile the Kochtopus is heavily funding right wing "charitable" organizations.



Oh, Canada.

 

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)
8. And a major shareholder in the DLC/Turd Way
Mon May 5, 2014, 12:21 PM
May 2014

big business morans usually call this "synergy". 90 years ago when Capone and Big Bill Thompson did it, it was called "corruption" and "racketeering"

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»Koch Brothers Are The Lar...