Families abandon homes near Alberta bitumen facility - Canada - CBC News

Families abandon homes near Alberta bitumen facility - Canada - CBC News: "Half a dozen families have abandoned their homes in a northwestern Alberta community, blaming emissions from a nearby heavy oil production site.

"We probably should have left earlier than we did," said Erin Lebreque, whose family moved away from the Peace River area, 365 kilometres west of Fort McMurray, in October."

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Tarsands dumping deadly heavy metals in to rivers

Oil Sand Industry in Canada Tied to Higher Carcinogen Level - NYTimes.com

Oil Sand Industry in Canada Tied to Higher Carcinogen Level - NYTimes.com: "OTTAWA — The development of Alberta’s oil sands has increased levels of cancer-causing compounds in surrounding lakes well beyond natural levels, Canadian researchers reported in a study released on Monday. And they said the contamination covered a wider area than had previously been believed."

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Sprawl leads to infrastructure strain

Sprawl leads to infrastructure strain: "Stanley blames sprawl for the financial struggles many U.S. cities are currently facing. “You will never in a million years raise the property tax enough on a single-family house to pay for the infrastructure that was put in the ground to provide for it,” says Stanley."

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Carol Linnitt | Documents Reveal Alberta Colludes with Industry in Pipeline Safety Review

Carol Linnitt | Documents Reveal Alberta Colludes with Industry in Pipeline Safety Review: "A pipeline safety review conducted by the Alberta government last summer was done with the oil and gas industry's interests in mind, according to recent documents released to Greenpeace through Freedom of Information legislation. "

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‘Crap’ shouldn’t be easier to build, mayor tells chamber

‘Crap’ shouldn’t be easier to build, mayor tells chamber: "He rhymed off some policy documents the city has to ensure design that’s attractive and works for transit or pedestrians.

“If you bring us stuff that you know violates those guidelines and then you complain it’s taking too long to get an approval, well there’s a reason for that.”"

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Break our addiction to parking lots | Calgary Herald

Break our addiction to parking lots | Calgary Herald: "There are three non-residential parking stalls for every car in America.[i] This has a major impact on the health of cities, though all parking lots are not equal, of course. A few stalls tucked behind a store away from a street have little impact on the quality of the city. Large swaths of asphalt, typically associated with “big box” stores and “power centres,” have numerous detriments. Their impermeable surfaces require major infrastructure to control storm water, which has a corollary impact on watershed health. Their surface absorbs ultraviolet heat creating pockets of hot microclimates which affect human and ecological health. Through inefficient land use they discourage walking and cycling and are a component in urban sprawl. They are enabling infrastructure for a single mode of transportation, which has consequences for the overall design and operation of a city."

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