Amnesty International says stop Site C work

Amnesty International is calling for a stop work order on British Columbia’s $8.8-billion Site C hydroelectric dam, saying the mega project on the Peace River threatens the human rights of indigenous peoples.

The independent human rights advocate released a report Tuesday calling on the federal and provincial governments to immediately suspend or rescind all construction approvals and permits related to the project in northeast B.C.

The report also says the project should only proceed on the basis of free, prior and informed consent of all affected indigenous peoples.

At least two area First Nations are challenging the project in court.

The Amnesty International report stated archeological evidence shows indigenous peoples have lived in the Peace River area for more than 10,000 years and many rely on the valley to hunt, fish, trap, conduct ceremonies and harvest plant medicines.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced approval of the project in December 2014, saying Site C will mark a historic milestone that will be felt for a century. Construction at the dam site started last summer and the federal government recently approved permits to allow work to begin on diverting water flows.

The report says Site C’s approval process violated Canada’s human rights obligations toward indigenous people on several grounds, including putting B.C.’s plans for the area ahead of indigenous peoples’ preferred use of the land.

B.C. Hydro says it has been consulting with area First Nations about the project since 2007.