Site C not a done deal yet

Re Jim Beattie’s letter (LNG is not an acceptable transition fuel says ex-MLA, July 17), I agree that LNG is not an acceptable transition fuel for the reasons he gives, but to state that “the power generated by Site C must be used creatively to build a truly sustainable renewable energy economy” when he earlier says that “Site C should have been cancelled” leaves me with the impression that he thinks the Site C dam is going ahead regardless of the overwhelming negatives. Well, not so fast. This is not a done deal. In April the B.C. Supreme Court ordered the B.C. government and BC Hydro to disclose to West Moberly First Nation the full, unredacted Milburn Report and all its appendices (only a summary of the report has been made public), as well as all documents relating to the projected final cost and safety of the Site C dam.

This information will be used in a 120-day trial expected to start in March as West Moberly First Nations is suing BC Hydro along with the federal and B.C. governments over the project.

Chief Roland Willson of West Moberly stated that since adhering to the treaty which covers the territory, they have been told constantly to go somewhere else. As he stated “We don’t have another Peace River valley to replace this one. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

I find it very interesting that as the graves of First Nations children are detected, some of the people who mourn include those who still run roughshod over First Nations’ rights — one prime example being the Site C dam fiasco which would also include the loss of prime agricultural land, blocking of wildlife corridors, and a cost that would hit everyone dearly for power we don’t need.