Steam Tar

ncor Options

rom 2011, according to the average of 20 estimates. ‘Train Wreck’

Pipeline Opposition

ation

Narrowing Gap

The closures are expected to put more than 350 people out of work, he said.The Power W

“Ontario is spending billions on wind turbines and solar panels supported by natural gas generation to the benefit of big multinational corporations,”

“Ontario will not likely meet its greenhouse gas targets because of increased dependence on natural gas generation, green job numbers remain elusive and our electricity prices are on the way to becoming among the highest in North America.”

last year that coal, which a decade ago accounted for a quarter of Ontario's electricity, now generates only 2.8 per cent of the total. It's now exceeded by wind power, which provides three per cent. The shift "demonstrates how far we’ve come in terms of t

Nuclear power provides more than half (56.4 per cent) of Ontario's electricity, followed by hydro at 22.3 per cent and natural gas at 14.6 per cent, the electricity agency said.

"While there’s little respite from rising electricity prices no matter what the source, with renewable energy at least consumers know what they’re paying for," he wrote.

So far, none of the Liberal candidates vying to succeed the departing McGuinty are ready to abandon his green-energy policy.

Gerard Kennedy promised to review the Green Energy Act.

“We must build pipelines. The world needs our oil. Nothing can get in the way. This is not negotiable.” Oil and pipeline companies are running headlong into some unanticipated opposition from folks who don’t see it the same way.

That means being a world leader in environmental stewardship, rather than arrogantly comparing ourselves to Nigeria or Sudan and patting ourselves on the back because our human rights are better than theirs.

Alberta is in a unique situation. It’s been blessed enormously in resources, wealth, natural beauty and smart people. We really can do anything if we set our minds to it, but not if we do it only for short-term financial gain.

Suncor Energy (TSX:SU) was 31 cents higher at C$33.58 while Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) advanced 51 cents to $26.69.

The information technology sector gained 1.4 per cent with Research In Motion Ltd. (TSX:RIM) ahead 39 cents to $11.79.

In Canada, Astral Media Inc. (TSX:ACM.A) said Thursday that its first-quarter profit was $59.6 million or $1.05 per share, beating analyst estimates. Revenue rose to $274.5 million, which was about $3 million below analyst estimates but higher than a year before. The company has a friendly deal with BCE Inc. (TSX:BCE), which is seeking regulatory approval to buy Astral for about $3.38 billion. Astral edged up 31 cents to $47.21.

Canadian pharmaceutical chain Jean Coutu Group (TSX:PJC.A) on Thursday reported stronger sales and a quarterly profit that beat analyst estimates by a penny per share.

Canadian "household debt as a percentage of disposable income has risen by almost 60 percentage points to 165% today,"

The bulk of this rise in debt – 66%, or $636 bn – has been in the form of mortgage debt, putting Canadians in an uncomfortable neighbourhood

between Spain and the United States in the ranking of household mortgage debt,"

For an extreme example of what can happen one only has to turn back the clock to the 1980s, when 20% interest rates destroyed many businesses and individual lives;

it is the average consumer that is blamed for the problems created by the so-called experts.

one could take each aforementioned quote by the experts, reword it to mean the exact opposite, and thereby have a better understanding of the situation.

The Bank of Canada is expected to keep its key rate on hold for now, giving Canadians a window to start reducing their debts before costs start to rise.

debt management increased as a priority for that age group to 18 per cent from 14 per cent.