Site C News
BREAKING: Expert witness in Site C injunction case warns of project delays
July 20, 2018
The press release that follows is long, but it’s a compelling and disturbing read. It should be compulsory reading for every British Columbian, because the situation at the Site C dam site will affect all of us.
Speech on Indigenous Rights & UNDRIP by Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada
May 25, 2018
This speech is notes for an address by the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, PC, QC, MP, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, given to to the Business Council of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 13, 2018.
Must Read! Letter to Dave Eby from Chief Roland Willson of Moberly First Nation on Site C
May 21, 2018
Chief Roland Willson recently addressing Parliamentary committee on environmental assessment Bill C-69
The following is the full text of a letter to Attorney General Dave Eby from Chief Roland Willson, of one of two First Nations making a civil claim of treaty infringement against BC, Canada and BC Hydro in BC Supreme Court.
BREAKING NEWS: The Canadian government won’t oppose First Nations injunction on the Site C Dam
May 15, 2018
This is the best news we’ve had since the BC Utilities Commission’s excellent and damning report on the Site C dam in October.
On May 9, 2018 Canada’s federal Justice Department issued an Application Response containing the unexpected but welcome statement that it will not be opposing the injunction filed in BC Supreme Court by West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations.
Why Site C Could Double Your Hydro Bills
November 6, 2017
DANGEROUS DEBT LEVELS AND CREDIT RATING CONCERNS
BC Hydro loses money every year. They are now close to $28 billion in debt—not counting the $5.9 billion they have in deferral accounts or hidden elsewhere in accounting. This debt masks the hemorrhaging of BC taxpayers’ money while costs are deferred to future generations.
This is worrying to both BC taxpayers and international credit rating agencies, who have warned that BC Hydro and by extension the province of BC are at risk of having their credit rating downgraded unless the debt stops growing. As Moody’s stated, “The anticipated increase in debt continues to pressure the province’s rating.” BC Hydro’s finances, they said, are “among the weakest of Canadian provincial utilities.” …
First Nations and the Site C dam
November 5, 2017
The Site C dam project represents a violation of rights guaranteed by Treaty 8 and a barrier to Reconciliation. Both the BC and Canadian governments have made strong commitments to Reconciliation between Canada and First Nations, most recently reiterated by Premier John Horgan upon taking office in 2017, and by the new government of Justin Trudeau who promised a new “nation to nation” relationship in 2015 but then issued a federal permit for the dam.