For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Vancouver, BC – Hoots, hollers and popping champagne corks resounded around the Wilderness Committees offices in Gastown this afternoon. It was all because of todays announcement made by BCs Environment Minister, Barry Penner, that he would not allow a power line to be pushed through Pincecone Burke Provincial Park.

“We believe that Mr. Penners announcement effectively kills the proposal by a private company to divert all eight of the Upper Pitt Rivers main tributary streams to produce hydro power,” said a jubilant Joe Foy, Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director. “Without access to the park, this company has no way to string its power line. We are hopeful that they will just walk away, and leave us and the river in peace,” he added.

Minister Penners announcement comes the day after over a thousand people attended a public meeting in Pitt Meadows to tell a private company, Northwest Cascade Power Ltd. (a subsidiary of Run of River Power Inc.) and the BC Government that the power project was too environmentally damaging to fish and wildlife habitat, and park values to go ahead.

“The public meeting was an amazing coming together of loggers, fishers, tree huggers, hikers, naturalists and just about everyone else,” exclaimed Gwen Barlee Wilderness Committee Policy Director. “Our leaders really stepped up too. We are so grateful to the Squamish Nation who came out and opposed this project as well the leader of the Official Opposition, Carole James who spoke at the meeting about the need to protect our rivers and streams,” said Barlee.

Political commentator Rafe Mair gave a barn-burner of a speech at the meeting. Shane Simpson, Environment Critic for the Official Opposition and local MLA Michael Sather all spoke in defense of the Upper Pitt River. Mark Angelo of the Outdoor Recreation Council gave an impassioned and reasoned appeal for the preservation of the watershed.

“For over a year people have been living under a dark cloud, desperately worried about the fate of the Upper Pitt River. Local environment groups like the Burke Mountain Naturalists and Save our Rivers teamed up with local residents to begin the fight that culminated in the 1,000-person strong public meeting. Thank goodness for these early pioneers in the battle to save the Pitt River,” said Foy.

“The Upper Pitt private power fiasco is a wake-up call for all British Columbians,” said Foy. “Its time to put a moratorium on all private power developments. We need to put our power planning back in the hands of BC Hydro so future Pitt River-type projects can be avoided. The Wilderness Committee is calling for hydropower to be publicly owned, regionally planned, and environmentally appropriate.”

“But for today,” said Barlee. “We are celebrating a great decision by Mr. Penner and BC Parks staff!”

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For more information contact Joe Foy 604-880-2580 or Gwen Barlee at (604) 604-202-0322