1. While Harold Innis' staples thesis was developed to understand the dynamics shaping an earlier phase of Canada's settler colonial economic development, many scholars argue that it remains relevant for understanding contemporary trends. More specifically, in Western Canada today, there is a focus on the oil and gas industry as a staples industry. And the development of pipelines (such as Coastal GasLink or Keystone XL) is advocated by certain private actors (e.g. TC Energy) and public actors as means to grow this industry. Drawing directly on Innis' perspective on the long-term effects of staples-centered development and the Loxley and Lamb, 2007 reading), reflect critically on the challenges associated with contemporary pipeline projects as a means for promoting sustainable economic development. The following articles provide some background context:

https://www.chatelaine.com/news/gas-oil-pipelines-in-canada/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/coastal-gaslink-crossing-hundreds-waterways-1.5917474