B.C. grapples with future of Site C, as Premier Horgan sends ministers north

VICTORIA — The fate of the largest public project in British Columbia’s history, the Site C hydroelectric dam, will be the focus of intense scrutiny this week as provincial cabinet ministers travel north for last-minute consultations. The New Democrats promised to decide Site C’s fate by the end of the year after a review by the B.C. Utilities Commission, the province’s independent energy regulator, concluded the dam is over budget and behind schedule. Construction work on the $8.3-billion project began near Fort St. John in the northeastern part of the province more than two years ago.

The heat is on, said Premier John Horgan, who is sending his ministers of Indigenous relations and energy to the region for consultations with First Nations and community representatives this week. Horgan said he will continue to crunch numbers and try to decide what’s best for rate payers.

“This is not an easy choice. This is not an easy decision,” he said.

“We’re going to be grappling with it for the next couple of weeks. I’m not underestimating the challenge ahead of me.”