It’s been two months since we promised to dive deep into the Site C dam and asked what you want to know about the megaproject. We’ve tackled the big questions: Is it past the point of no return? Why did the BC Liberal government block independent review of the project? We also looked at what First […]
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Do We Even Need the Site C Dam?
Recent data suggests we don’t. Decreased load forecasts give us more time to consider less costly energy options. Do we need the $8.9-billion Site C dam? When we promised to dig deep into the megaproject and asked what you wanted to know, that was one of your big questions. And it’s an issue that’s been […]
First Nations members on Site C: ‘You don’t consult after you make the decision’
Despite many meetings, some Treaty 8 members say the consultations should’ve focused less on compensation and more on protecting treaty rights. “There’s spiritual sites all over this place,” says Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nation. “Anywhere around here you put a shovel in the ground and start digging, you’ll find arrowheads, remnants […]
Why BC Liberals Blocked Usual Independent Review for Site C
People are still questioning BC Liberals’ review of Site C. Politicians wanted to avoid tough questions about need for project, future costs, critics say. Why is the biggest megaproject in B.C. history, the $8.8-billion Site C dam, going ahead without the standard review by the B.C. Utilities Commission to determine if it’s actually needed and […]
Is Site C Really ‘Past the Point of No Return?’
Cancelling unneeded, expensive, high-risk dam still smart choice, former CEO, economist say. It’s a lot of work getting a riverbank ready to hold a 15-storey earthfill dam. That’s what Site C crews have been focused on for the last 21 months. It’s mostly prep-work, so there are only a few permanent installations. Everything else will […]
What do you need to know about the Site C dam? Let’s investigate together.
I spent all summer reporting on the megaproject, and still have so many questions. So I’ve teamed up with The Tyee and Discourse media to investigate it, leading up to the May 9 provincial election. See the full first story on The Tyee or Discourse Media. For the next few months, leading up to the provincial election […]
Sierra Club wants judicial review of Site C Wildlife Act exemptions
The Sierra Club BC and environmentalist Josette Wier filed a petition for judicial review in B.C. Supreme Court July 20, asking the court to rule on whether the province broke the law by granting BC Hydro a Wildlife Act exemption to expedite construction on the Site C dam. The environmental group says the ministry allowed […]
Tumbler Ridge man fined $2,400 for selling elk meat
A Tumbler Ridge man pled guilty to two counts of trafficking wildlife meat earlier this month, receiving a $2,400 fine and an 18-month ban on holding a hunting or fishing license. David Sanders was selling elk meat in 2015, when a complaint was filed with the Conservation Officer Service (COS). COS officers met with Sanders […]
Paddle for the Peace takes on new political urgency
Green leader Elizabeth May calls Site C ‘a monstrosity,’ says Trudeau must seek new advice on damDipping a paddle in the Peace River, the red-orange canoe glides down the water. Hundreds of other boats float beside, behind and ahead towards Bear Flat, where BC Hydro is working to purchase farmland to realign Highway 29 in preparation for the Site C reservoir.It’s cold and quiet, this peaceful river, but powerful currents boil from under the surface, rushing from the Rocky Mountains all the way e
11th annual Paddle for the Peace to launch as Site C construction nears one year
The 11th annual Paddle for the Peace will take to the waters Saturday, July 9, and organizers are expecting it to be the largest yet. As dam construction continues near the confluence of the Peace and Moberly Rivers, paddlers will launch from the confluence of the Halfway River at noon for a 90-minute trip down […]