It can take decades of research and more than billions of dollars to create a new antibiotic drug. Sometimes, the first step of the process starts underground, deep inside a mountain. I filmed this video with Emily McCarty, and Tim Chaffee and Nathan Griffiths did the editing.
Site C called first test for NDP’s commitment to Indigenous rights
‘It’s the issue that’s out front and in everybody’s faces.’ Recent experiences with the federal government have left Prophet River First Nation member Helen Knott wary of government promises. So while she and other Indigenous people are excited about NDP provincial government commitments to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, words […]
Tough Task Ahead for Site C’s Reviewers
Utilities commissioners will need to get knee-deep in data. Can it really be done in 12 weeks? The last time Site C was fully reviewed by the BC Utilities Commission, it was 1983. The commission investigated for just over a year and ultimately concluded that Site C was unneeded and recommended BC Hydro begin investigating […]
Wildfires: Should BC Do More to Help Homeowners ‘Stay and Defend’?

It’s risky, but many saved their property by not evacuating. The Tl’etinqox First Nation fought side by side with firefighters. As wildfires ravage much of B.C., strange reports of evacuation dodgers were coming in. Of course, you don’t have to evade evacuation orders here, but that’s how the coverage sounded. People were “defying” or “ignoring” evacuation […]
Everything you want to know about the Site C dam — answered

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 […]
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 […]
Video: Site C & Treaty 8 First Nations Consultation
Site C is located in Treaty 8 territory. Consultation happened, but lots of First Nations people I spoke with say it was meaningless and did nothing to address the treaty infringement. This video was produced for The Tyee and Discourse Media as part of a series exploring Site C. View the accompanying article on First […]
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 […]
Halting Site C Now Will Save Up to $2 Billion, Says UBC Report
Demand projections show power not needed, will be sold at a loss. Halting work on the Site C dam could save British Columbians up to $2 billion, according to a report from UBC’s Program on Water Governance. The report says the government should stop Site C construction and send the project to the BC Utilities Commission for […]
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 […]