The Pipeline Isn't Just a Pipe — It's a Promise, and Someone Has to Check It
Here's a myth I hear constantly: that opposing oil and gas expansion in Alberta means opposing jobs, opposing progress, opposing the province itself. It doesn't. It means asking who signs off on the risk, who lives downstream, and who cleans up when a valve fails at 2 a.m. That's the work this site does.
Why Stopbaytex.ca Exists
I started tracking regulatory filings after a well pad went in less than two kilometres from a friend's ranch near Peace River. Nobody had told her. The public comment period had already closed. That gap — between what companies file and what neighbours actually know — is the reason this site keeps running.
- Plain-language breakdowns of Alberta Energy Regulator applications
- Timelines for public comment windows before they quietly close
- Maps showing proposed sites against watersheds and grazing land
- Contact templates for writing municipal councils and the AER
A Bit About Me
I'm Alice Bennett — a writer and analyst who spends far too much time reading environmental impact assessments for fun. I keep a jar of Alberta soil samples on my desk, labelled by site, mostly to remind myself these documents describe real ground under real feet. My job here isn't to shout. It's to translate dense regulatory language into something a rancher, a student, or a city councillor can actually use before a decision gets made without them.
On Staying Grounded
Advocacy works best when it's precise, not performative. I try to fact-check every claim twice, name uncertainty when it exists, and avoid painting every operator as a villain — some listen, some improve, some don't. Nuance is slower than outrage, but it holds up better in a hearing room.
If you've ever wondered what's actually being proposed near your own backyard, start with the latest filings or reach out through contact. Thank you for caring enough to read this far — it matters more than you'd think.