July 10, 2014

We’re expecting the provincial and federal governments to make a decision on the Site C dam this fall. 

NOW is the time to turn up the volume! 

One effective way that you can voice opposition to Site C is by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

We’ve put together a helpful list of points to consider when writing your letter about the Site C dam:

• The proposed Site C dam threatens to flood over 100 kilometres of rich valley-bottom lands, including farmland, wildlife habitat, First Nations cultural sites and heritage sites. 

• The Site C dam is not needed in BC – In its report, the Panel reviewing the project concluded that "the Proponent has not fully demonstrated the need for the Project on the timetable set forth."

• First Nations in the region oppose the Site C dam, and the Joint Review Panel also acknowledged that the project poses a "significant adverse effect" on traditional uses of the land by First Nations, some of which "cannot be mitigated." 

• The reservoir from Site C would cause the destruction of 6,000 hectares of Peace Valley farmland – resulting in the biggest loss from the Agricultural Land Reserve in its entire 40-year history. 

• The Joint Review Panel concluded that the loss of agricultural land "would be highly significant to the farmers who would bear the loss, and that financial compensation would not make up for the loss of a highly valued place and way of life."

• The Panel’s other conclusions acknowledge “significant adverse effects on fish and fish habitat,” significant effects on at-risk and sensitive ecological communities and "a significant adverse effect on wetlands."

• In addition, the Panel report suggests that the $8 billion price tag that BC Hydro plans for Site C may not be accurate, and recommends oversight by the province's utility watchdog, the BC Utilities Commission. 

• People who live in the Peace River Valley do not want their homes, sacred sites, heritage areas and farmland flooded to produce expensive, unneeded electrical power – as illustrated in the following video: http://bit.ly/1ibEpwK

• Based on the numerous critical concerns raised by the Joint Review Panel's report, both the BC government and the federal government should REJECT the Site C proposal, once and for all.

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Don't know where to send your letter? Click on the links in the list below for editor email addresses or letter submission tools for the following BC local newspapers: