Verified answer

I think that Canada should stop exporting tarsands oil, stop building new mines, and use the existing mines for Canadian consumption only until they run out while we build a green energy infrastructure. Canada can replace all of the fossil fuels produced in Canada (including those currently exported to the US) using only 5% of our land area for biofuel plantations. 17% of the total would replace coal fired electricity, 62% would replace fossil oil with synthetic pyrolysis oil and 21% would replace natural gas. This is based on the assumption that the average yield of dry biomass is 2 kg/m^2 or higher. I measured a 2 kg/m^2 yield on a test plot this summer. The problem for the oil industry is that the resource is currently owned by millions of small landowners and the problem for governments is that it will be difficult to tax energy produced by small landowners for their own use.

I'm in your camp regarding energy. Let's pass on the tarsands, implement the Cap and Trade Dana mentioned, and go from there. A few links provided, as always. The first mentioned a Times of London editorial, which I started to look for but found something more current, so shared that instead.

And: I don't think Starbuck or most people nowadays really know what socialism is. Not that you are, but it's obviously flung as an insult. And I think you, Dana and I are far more aware of how much energy we use when online and the consequences of that usage. He needs to come up with better material or hush it.

How about this Gwen, people like you and Dana who are against any form of energy give up your computers, electricity, etc and go live in the mountains off of the land where your carbon foot prints can be zero. Transporting the sands to the US for processing then shipping the sands back to where they were harvested is just stupid. At least in the United States, you have to restore the land back to what it was before mining to the best you can.

Gwen - I think you may be confused. Most of the "raw" bitumen will be going to the US to be upgraded as is the current plan. There is generally only preliminary upgrading done in Canada and only a few ultimate upgraders and refining capacity planned for Canada. This is not my field of expertise, but I believe that is the case. much of the "dirty" of "dirty oil sands" will already be on their dime. Pipelines are already under construction.

Now it is verified by Gwen's and Dana's answer. Both are socialists but even more than that, they are anti humanity. They do not care about anyone else as long as they got their perfect little world in place and you or me mean nothing. Folks this is a typical liberal socialist. Beware. Come mid term elections, the US voters will send them all packing.

Yes both Gwen and Dana should stay off the internet using all that power. They should not be able to take a hot shower, or cook their food, or live in a warm house as folks under their new system, these issues will not be able to be afforded my many people in the future.

I like your second suggestion.

One easy alternative would be for both Canada and the USA to implement carbon cap and trade systems. That would make the tar sands economically much less attractive for both countries, very possibly even economically non-viable.

Just put a price on carbon so that the financial cost of the tar sands reflects the environmental costs.

Governments protest the pollution of the oil sands, but they sure enjoy their money from it.

It's so stupid. How about we don't waste time digging the stuff up at all.