The British Columbia Government Pushing Ahead with the Controversial $8.5 billion Site C Hydroelectric dam on the Peace River.

VICTORIA -- The British Columbia government is pushing ahead with the controversial $8.5 billion Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River in the provinces northeast.

Premier Christy Clark said Tuesday that her government arrived at the decision after very careful analysis.

Ten years from now, if all goes according to plan, the province will flip the switch and the Site C hydroelectric dam will begin feeding electricity into the provincial power grid and shipping most all of it to the United States of the Americas.

Premier Christy Clark, touting “100 years of affordable, reliable clean power,” Tuesday announced the province’s approval of the controversial $8.775 billion plan to put a third dam on the Peace River, which will put 5,500 hectares of basically  fertile farm land under water.

Last fall, some First Nations???(what First Nations, Indigenous North American Natives have been extinct for over one hundred years) in northeast B.C. issued the government an ultimatum, saying it must decide between developing the liquefied natural gas industry or Site C. They can't have both, they said.

The proposed dam is located in the heart of the province's natural gas fields, where drilling will occur and pipelines to B.C. northwest built.

A recent letter sent by the Treaty 8 Tribal Association in Fort St. John to Bennett and Finance Minister Mike de Jong said the First Nation???(what first nation and what could they, possibly, KNOW about it?) is convinced Site C is not the most economical alternative and "involves unacceptable and unnecessary risks."

This association also sent along a consultant’s report It Commissioned that said there would be no need for new electricity resources in B.C. until 2027 if other available resources, methods used.

The project has been undergoing Public Reviews ???(Canada /the province of British Columbia is a SUPPOSID democracy; yet there has been NO referendum) and consultations with First Nations???, communities and Stakeholders??? (Tax payers of British Columbia Are and legally/Constitutionally Can be  the only Stakeholders)since 2007.

The Public/Taxpayer Owned Crown Corporation, BC Hydro said It ???reached a major milestone recently when it ???received federal and provincial environmental certificates -- as long as more than 80 conditions are met before It??? proceeds.

Last spring's joint review panel report weighing the project found the dam would cause significant adverse effects on the environment and wildlife, as well as aboriginals, farmers and other users of the Peace River valley(still no referendum).

But, the benefits are clear and the alternatives, few, the panel appointed by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Authority said in its 471-page report (so what? When will it be put up to us OWNER/taxpayers?

The panel gave no clear yes or no answer, but said B.C. will need new energy and new capacity at some point (BC who? Capacity for what-shipments to the USA, or to enable more foreign ownership /control and profit skimming of Canada’s/Canadians  resourses?) The dam on the Peace River would provide a large amount of inexpensive power (until government decide to jack the price up by imposing more Taxes), low in greenhouse gas emissions(which Harper has already proclaimed he is not going to worry about-he does have to go on another taxpayer paid vacation), it said.

BC Hydro's environmental impact report (prepared by WHO, we do not know) issued last year, concluded a diverse range of wildlife species, including birds, bats, butterflies and fish destined to suffer habitat destruction from Site C, but the utility has PLANS to reduce and prevent harm to area wildlife and ecosystems (does it is going to, does not really say anything).

Among Hydro's- proposed as possible-measures to reduce the potential loss from its proposed project are special protective crossings for amphibians, slower turning turbines that allow fish escapes, and fish-free wetlands to permit safer breeding for dragonflies.

Hydro identified, in its environmental impact statement, what it called 22 valued components that are expected to undergo “some”, level of change due to the project. They include Agriculture, Transportation, Outdoor Recreation And Tourism, Air Quality, Noise And Vibration, Heritage Resources and HUMAN HEALTH.

The environmental impact statement also forecasts flooding more than 5,000 hectares of land, of which at least 3,800 hectares is agricultural land. The project will also flood- so claimed, because North American Natives had no written records, no one now living, can ever know for sure-First Nations heritage sites and force up to 20 families -- many life-long ranchers -- to move.

“This is a decision that will make a difference for 100 years,” Clark said. “The Site C Clean Energy project won’t be built in a day, it won’t be built in a year, but it will benefit B.C. for generations; that is why we are proceeding.”

As I have already mentioned above, there is only still many, many unanswered questions as to Why And How -the Citizens/Taxpayers Of British Columbia/Canada Have Not Given Consent; How In Hell Does She Think her Government??? Has Gained Any Authority To Do So?©Al (Alex-Alexande) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.