Oil and gas regulator helps safeguard boreal caribou
Re: Without help, B.C.’s boreal caribou face annihilation, Opinion, May 28.
Achieving stable boreal caribou herds in B.C. is complex and requires the best available science and the collaboration of governments, agencies, industry, First Nations and landowners. As the Crown corporation responsible for applying B.C. laws and regulations related to oil and gas activities, the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission plays an important role in helping safeguard boreal caribou. The commission provides oversight at every stage of oil and gas activity. The commission also takes a leadership role in:
The Oil and Gas Research and Innovation Society and the B.C. Boreal Caribou Research and Effectiveness Monitoring Board, which have invested nearly $7.9 million in more than 40 boreal-caribou projects in the last four years.
Working with the provincial government on legislative changes to accelerate caribou-habitat restoration.
Working with the provincial government on the Boreal Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan.
Caribou recovery is an important issue, and British Columbians deserve balanced reporting on the successes and challenges of caribou-recovery work.
By focusing on a single 2014 report, the opinion piece published in The Province doesn’t acknowledge the evidence-based work done since then and does a disservice to members of the public who are looking for responsible, fact-based analysis of B.C.’s caribou-recovery efforts.
To learn more about permit conditions, research and enforcement of B.C.’s environmental regulations, please visit BCOGC.ca. Paul Jeakins, commissioner and CEO, B.C. Oil and Gas Commission
Site C on time, on budget
Re: Still time to turn lights off on harmful Site C dam, Opinion, May 25.
I would like to provide an update on Site C in response to this article published about the project. Construction on Site C began in the summer of 2015 and considerable work has taken place on site over the past three years. Since we started construction we’ve hit bedrock on both the north and south banks. So far we’ve removed more than eight million cubic metres of materials, including bedrock, on the north bank to create a stable slope for the dam.
On the south bank, we’ve also removed bedrock to create the area for the concrete foundation that will be placed under the spillway and generating station for stability and seismic protection.
This summer work will continue to ramp up with additional contractors and workers mobilizing to the site. The project is on schedule to be delivered in late 2024 and within the $10.7-billion budget.
Further, we recognize there are effects on the local community, Indigenous groups, the environment, and fish and wildlife as the result of this project. That’s why we are committed to mitigating impacts first and foremost, and safely and responsibly managing issues that arise during construction.
At about $60 per megawatt hour, Site C will help us meet the growing demand for power. It will also support the development of renewable resources in B.C. by providing a reliable backup to intermittent resources like wind and solar.
Ken McKenzie, executive vice-president,
Site C project
Compass card offers savings
Re: Compass card obsolete, Letters, May 25. The Compass card is by no means obsolete. It’s used for saving money on transit. If I simply tap a credit card or bank card, I’m charged the full price of $5.50 for each direction of my three-zone trip. I instead buy a monthly pass via the Compass card to receive significant savings. I’m delighted with my Compass and hope they continue improving on it. Karen Hardie, Coquitlam