News Release 

VANCOUVER – Representatives of the Wilderness Committee and other citizens concerned about the BC government’s Site C dam project will gather in front of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention today. Beginning at 8:00 a.m., Site C opponents will be at the entrance to the Vancouver Convention Centre East (999 Canada Place) to answer questions UBCM delegates may have about the much-criticized megaproject.

Several local governments, including Metro Vancouver, have called for an independent review of the Site C dam by the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) with full procedural safeguards. A resolution calling for a BCUC review will be put before the UBCM delegates attending the convention.

The provincial government has so far prevented the independent review of the Site C dam project by the BCUC, which would ordinarily be required by law. In its final report, the joint federal/provincial review panel assessing Site C recommended that the project be referred to the BCUC before construction begins.

The joint review panel also concluded that the Site C dam project is not needed at this time and that alternatives that do not cause the same degree of environmental harm should be explored.

“Strong opposition to the Site C dam is growing all across BC,” said Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director Joe Foy. “Despite the lack of BCUC oversight, and despite the findings by the review panel that Site C dam is not needed, the BC government has allowed some clearing and roadwork to proceed. We see this as an attempt to bulldoze legitimate public opposition to this ill-advised project.”

Site C opponents point out that:

• Destruction of key food-producing and prime farmland will occur at a time when food security concerns are rising;
• Borrowing $8.8 billion to finance the dam will affect the province's capacity to build other major projects;
• The infringement of Aboriginal treaty rights is a major concern, as is the loss of important cultural artifacts and heritage sites; and
• Provincial electricity rates will have to increase to pay for Site C when lower cost options for energy are available.

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For more information, please contact:

Joe Foy | National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee – (604) 880-2580