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Accidents in the energy industry can happen anywhere, any time

By Paul Marck

The same day Enbridge announces outstanding financial results — a 19 per cent income rise in the last quarter, among other glad tidings — comes news of a pipeline leak. It was reported that the Lakehead System near Battle Creek, Mich., sprung a leak that poured about three million litres of crude into the Kalamazoo River. It is a tragic, unfortunate development. But let’s put some context around this latest oil disaster.

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Deposed boss a sign that moral decay is at centre of BP’s corporate culture

By Paul Marck

Nobody should feel sorry for departed BP honcho Tony Hayward. With a $1.6-million severance, $17.5-million pension package and cushy consulting gig with BP in Russia — far from the world’s prying eyes, the former pointman in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster is finally getting his wish. He has his life back. Too bad the same can’t be said for the shrimpers, resort operators, residents and everyone else affected by BP’s alleged gross negligence in the Macondo well blowout.

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Top guns of industry can put a face on Alberta’s biggest economic engine

By Paul Marck

If you are a CEO in this province, you need to get out in front of the oil sands story and start telling it to the Canadian public, your customers, and the rest of the world. No more excuses, no more hiding behind the skirts of industry associations and corporate flaks. It is up to you, Mr. or Ms. CEO, to take the message to the Empire Club, the Vancouver and Montreal boards of trade and even to the local Rotary meeting. And while you are at it, book some face time with your American contacts as well.

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Where’s the ethics in Corporate Ethics International’s campaign?

By Paul Marck

There are some important lessons to be learned in a three-plus decades journalism career. A couple of them are these: When the truth is elusive or you choose to ignore it, at the very least do not report half-truths or  misinformation. Secondly, be wary of parachuting into somebody else’s backyard and pretend to be an expert. Sadly, no such pangs of conscience seem to haunt Corporate Ethics International (CEI) and their “Rethink Alberta” campaign.

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Survey results show business sentiments are looking up

By Paul Marck

This week’s release of the Bank of Canada’s business outlook survey could not be more timely, as it arrives just as the quarterly season gets underway. While this survey does not generate a lot of detail, it is encouraging. The fact that companies report higher sales activity — 49% of respondents say sales volumes increased over the same period last year — suggests that corporate Canada is climbing nicely out of the trough. Plus 53% expect sales volumes to rise at a greater rate in the next 12 months.

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Oilers not moving anywhere, but what’s going on?

By Paul Marck

Now that some of the hysteria has died down about the Edmonton Oilers not being on the move to Hamilton, let’s take a closer look at just what sports and drugstore magnate Daryl Katz is up to.

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“The road to influence is the route less travelled.” (more…)

Our provincial government wants to be more user friendly

By Paul Marck

The headline blared that not only would the energy industry save $170 million in regulatory costs, but that the Alberta government’s new regime would be more “modern, flexible, effective and efficient.” You are going to see a lot more of this sort of thing.

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By Paul Marck
It pays to listen to your shareholders. That is the stinging message that the ousted directors of Teilhard Technologies must be feeling today. (more…)

‘Upgrader Alley’ gets much needed boost

By Paul Marck

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