FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Showing solidarity for the Peace Valley Landowners Association, who is in the B.C. Supreme Court of Appeal this week, protesters of the $9-billion Site C hydroelectric dam project have gathered at Fort St. John’s Provincial Courthouse.
President of the PVLA Ken Boon was in the Court of Appeal yesterday, and BC Hydro is set to present their arguments today.
Shelly Ouellette says there will be demonstrations across B.C., including in Terrace, Prince Rupert, and likely in Haida Gwaii.
“The British Columbia Utilities Commission was created solely to protect ratepayers from unnecessary projects from BC Hydro,” Ouellette said. “BC Hydro and the B.C. Government circumvented that process.”
A press conference was held earlier today in Vancouver, featuring Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, David Suzuki, and a Site C protester who recently was admitted to hospital after a 19-day hunger strike.
According to reports, Kristin Henry lost 20 per cent of her body weight.
Ouellette says that she has spoken to local residents who want to support the protesters, but fear repercussions if they publicly stand against Site C.
“Quite a few of them said, ‘We’re not allowed to do it. We are told by our company to not show up for rallies. They don’t care how we feel about it, we have to keep it private’,” she continued. “Their jobs are at stake.”
The appeal addresses a July 2015 decision to dismiss the PVLA’s court challenge of Site C’s environmental assessment certificate.
Construction of Site C started last summer, and is expected to be done in 2024. Once built, BC Hydro says Site C will provide ‘clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity’ for over a century.
From Alaska Highway News