News
Suzanne Simard: The destruction of the last old growth forests has to stop
June 12, 2021
UBC professor of forest ecology Suzanne Simard’s work helped to inspire Avatar. Her memoir, In Search of the Mother Tree, is set to become a Hollywood film with Amy Adams playing Simard. The “mother tree” is the tree in ancient forests that communicates with and helps to supply nutrients (including carbon) to surrounding trees via a network of fungi.
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.
Time lapse map shows the loss of ancient forests on Vancouver Island
May 4, 2017
A stunning new animated map of logging on Vancouver Island was released today by well-known BC environmentalist Vicky Husband. The map displays 150 years of logging in 30 seconds, and provides important perspective to public debate over logging and the escalation of raw log exports from the province.
BC’s farmlands open to fracking & other development? Stop Bill 24
March 30, 2014
The BC Government is about to pass a bill – Bill 24 – that will allow industrial development through the vast proportion of that farmland. That development would include fracking, mining, diversion of water for oil and gas, and other invasive industrial activities. We must stop Bill 24 from becoming law.
Vancouver Island Ancient Forests
May 10, 2013
In only 60 years, forest companies have clearcut the vast bulk of Vancouver Island’s ancient forest. Clayoquot Sound (lime green bit near bottom left of right-hand map) is the only significant tall old growth forest remaining. Meanwhile export of raw (non value-added) logs has risen, while job numbers have fallen.