XPost: can.politics, bc.politics, van.general   
   XPost: vic.general   
   From: Panca@nyet.ca   
      
   A $9-billion dam - to supply the electricity and water for foreign companies   
   that will be extracting our resources.   
   And she dared say:  "Affordable" electricity.   How are YOUR hydro bills this   
   winter, British Columbians?   
      
   BC, we just got screwed big time.   
   _______________________________________________   
   CBC News Posted: Dec 16, 2014   
      
   Site C dam approved by B.C. government   
   Massive hydro project would flood a large area of the Peace River Valley in   
   northern B.C.   
      
   B.C. has approved the $9 billion Site C dam — a massive hydroelectric project   
   that would flood a large area of the Peace River Valley in northeastern B.C.   
      
   In making the announcement, Premier Christy Clark said the Site C Clean Energy   
   Project will provide B.C. residents with a reliable source of power for the   
   next 100 years for the least cost to the taxpayer.   
      
        History: Site C dam: How we got here and what you need to know   
      
   “Affordable, reliable, clean electricity is the backbone of British   
   Columbia’s   
   economy,” said Clark. “Site C will support our quality of life for decades   
   to   
   come and will enable continued investment and a growing economy.”   
      
      
      First Nations, environmentalists, opposed   
      
   The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is drawing a line in the sand declaring that   
   Site C "will never see the light of day."   
      
   " We believe it to be an incredibly short-sighted and stupid decision, said   
   Grand Chief Stewart Philip."It's not about the money. It's about the   
   environment, it's about the land — about constitutional rights, treaty rights   
   and so on and so forth. It's about a way of life."   
      
   Treaty 8 First Nations, some of whom were displaced by the W.A.C Bennett dam   
   when it was built, say they will fight construction of the Site C project. The   
   hydroelectric project would dramatically alter a large area of northeastern   
   B.C. flooding more than 5,500 hectares of land over an 83-kilometre stretch of   
   valley.   
      
   In a letter to the minister, they demand the government repeal the Columbia   
   River Treaty with the United States, which provides downstream benefits they   
   say allow the U.S. to receive B.C. power at a fraction of its cost. They also   
   said B.C. could fill its electrical needs through independent power producers   
   utilizing renewable solar, wind, water and geothermal energy.   
      
   The First Nations Summit, representing a majority of First Nations and Tribal   
   Councils in B.C., issued a statement denouncing the decision, noting it will   
   result in extensive flooding within the traditional territories of Treaty 8   
   nations.   
      
   "This approach is unacceptable and an affront to the cultivation of   
   constructive government-to-government relations between the provincial   
   government and BC First Nations," it said in a statement.   
      
   West Moberly First Nation Chief Roland Willson said his band is not opposed to   
   resource development, but his people don't want to see the flooding of this   
   land, which has many sacred sites on it.   
      
   "We said no to the destruction of that valley … it's the last chunk of valley   
   that we have and it's vitally important," he said. "We have to make a decision   
   here that will have implications for many, many decades."   
      
   The Peace Valley Environment Association said B.C. had made the biggest mistake   
   in its history, noting that with five court cases opposing Site C already under   
   way, it will cost the government millions in legal fees and years in the courts   
      
   "At this time, it would make far more sense for BC to pause and develop an   
   energy plan for the province. There is no rush to build Site C," it said.   
      
   BC Hydro estimates Site C would generate an estimated 1,100 megawatts of   
   capacity, or enough to power the equivalent of 450,000 homes a year.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)