Your hydro bill

Details: Published on Tuesday, 21 June 2016 14:45; Written by editor

You’ve probably heard of the Site C dam: Premier Clark’s $8.8 billion disaster project to build a massive dam in northeastern BC, in order to supply electricity for tar sands extraction and fracking.[1]

If it goes ahead, the project will flood vast areas of farmland, drown wildlife habitat, trample Indigenous rights, and trigger a massive rate increase on your hydro bill -- between 30 - 40% within three years.[2]

With a price tag of $8.8 billion, the Site C dam is the most expensive, most unnecessary public project in B.C. history -- one that you’ll be paying for for years.

But we have an opportunity to shut it down, and we have to speak up now.

First Nations communities launched a legal challenge against Site C in 2014.[3] Despite this, Christy Clark’s bulldozing ahead. She’s trying to push the dam past the point of no return before the courts rule on the legal challenge -- but she needs new permits from the federal government to keep building.[4]

The new Liberal government promised evidence-based decision-making and a renewed relationship with First Nations. A giant petition could prove that thousands of us want PM Trudeau to follow through on his government’s promises and do the right thing: put a moratorium on all construction permits until the Treaty 8 First Nations’ legal challenge is complete.

With the clock ticking and Clark pressuring the feds to sign the permits, the Prime Minister needs to hear from you. Sign the petition.

There’s widespread opposition to the Site C dam for good reason:

It will flood vast areas of farmland and drown wildlife habitat. According to a federal-provincial environmental impact assessment, the dam will cause irreversible effects on land, habitat and wildlife, making fishing unsafe for at least a generation. Since there’s no demand for more more power in BC, Clark’s now proposing that Site C power be used for tar sands extraction and fracking projects.[4]
It violates First Nations treaty rights. The right to fish, trap, and hunt cannot be exercised if the land is drowned, the fish diseased, and the wildlife killed off. If Site C is built the Treaty First Nations signed won’t be worth the paper it’s written on.[5]
It’s a colossal economic waste. BC doesn’t even need the energy that Site C would produce, meaning that the multibillion dollar price tag for the project would be huge pile of public waste - one that you’ll be footing the bill for via your bloated monthly hydro bill. $8.8 billion could be better spent on sustainable energy for communities across the province, shaping an energy future for BC that creates local jobs and makes BC a green energy leader.[6]

With enough pressure from us, Trudeau can act to stop this expensive, unnecessary project in its tracks.

Sign the petition calling on PM Trudeau to do the right thing: http://www.leadnow.ca/stop-site-c/

With hope and respect,

Brittany and Amara, on behalf of the Leadnow team

Sources

[1] Premier Clark’s Proposal to ‘Electrify Oilsands’ With Site C Dam Has ‘Air of Desperation’: Panel Chair
http://www.desmog.ca/2016/04/13/premier-clark-s-proposal-electrify-oilsands-site-c-dam-has-air-desperation-panel-chair
[2] Site C Dam ‘Devastating’ for British Columbians, Says Former CEO of BC Hydro, http://www.desmog.ca/2015/08/04/exclusive-site-c-dam-devastating-british-columbians-says-former-ceo-bc-hydro
[3] First Nations launch federal court challenge to BC Site C dam, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/first-nations-launch-federal-court-challenge-of-bcs-site-c-dam/article21568662/
[4] Trudeau can and should delay Site C http://www.vancouversun.com/news/opinion+trudeau+should+delay+site/11753060/story.html
[5]Human RIghts at Risk: Site C, http://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/issues/indigenous-peoples/indigenous-peoples-canada/resource-development-canada/site-c-dam
[6] See 3
[7] See 2

Please support the Leadnow.ca community! We're funded by people like you, and our small, dedicated team and growing community make sure your donation goes a long way. Every dollar helps. You can donate online at http://www.leadnow.ca/en/donate

Leadnow.ca is an independent campaigning community that brings Canadians together to hold government accountable, deepen our democracy and take action for the common good. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. To contact us, you can reply to this email

Leadnow.ca, PO Box 2091, Stn Terminal, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3T2 — 1‑855‑LEADN0W | 1‑855‑532‑3609