At an anti Site-C dam event in downtown Vancouver Wednesday evening, The Chief of the West Moberly First Nation in the Peace Valley vowed to stop any work from proceeding, until the court challenges against the hydroelectric dam are heard.

 

Chief Roland Wilson says it will file an injunction for a stop-work order if clearing of the south bank begins.

 

This week BC Hydro announced it awarded the contract to Paul Paquette and Son’s Contracting of Chetwynd.

 

“One of the things that they are trying to do is to get the First nations fighting amongst each other, they have awarded the contract to a First nations contractor, we don’t want to be in a position like that, we understand people need to work, what we are saying is that there are better jobs out there.”

 

The work, which includes the removal of 620 hectares of trees, is expected to get underway this summer.

 

They say it will create 40 jobs.

 

Do you care about the Site C dam?

 

Only a few dozen Vancouverites showed up Wednesday night to hear from First Nations leaders and environmental activists.

 

Some said it’s hard to get their friends and family engaged in an issue that will impact communities in Northeastern BC.

 

“It’s so far away, out of sight, out of mind.”

“It is really easy to be disengaged I think, especially when we are living in Vancouver.”

“Default mode, it tends to be the case that, the country feeds the city, and the city starves the country.”

 

Activists say prime agricultural land will be flooded, wildlife will suffer, farmers will lose their livelihoods, and that’s something all British Columbians should care about.

 

The proponent says the project will provide green energy, producing 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 450,000 homes.