News Release - October 14, 2014

VANCOUVER – The Wilderness Committee reacted today to the news that the governments of both BC and Canada have granted environmental assessment approval to the Site C dam. 

“It’s a sad day today,” said Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director Joe Foy. “We will be paying for this terrible decision for a long time to come. I do not think this dam will ever be built – but the fight it’s going to take to stop it could become very damaging to our governments’ relationships with farmers, First Nations and all people who value our environment.”The Site C dam project carries an $8 billion price tag. It would flood over 100 kilometres of valley-bottom lands, including prime farmland in the Peace River Valley.

In its final report, the Joint Review Panel assessing the project acknowledged that the dam would have “significant adverse effects” on fish habitat, agricultural land and First Nations. The panel also concluded that "the Proponent has not fully demonstrated the need for the Project on the timetable set forth."

The Site C dam is strongly opposed by area farmers, ranchers and the Treaty 8 group of First Nations. Many environmental organizations in British Columbia have stood in opposition to the proposed dam as well.

“We do not need the amount of electricity that this dam would produce – and we may never need it. What we are really going to need is the goodwill and trust of First Nations, and every piece of farmland we can possibly preserve,” Foy said.

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For more information, contact:

Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee
604-683-8220 (office) 604-880-2580 (cell)

Photo: Peace Valley farmland is at risk due to the Site C dam (Don Hoffmann)