Environment

Government Decides Whether To Issue New Site C Permits

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By Roy L Hales

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The battle to save the Peace River Valley is not over. First Nations and local farmers are continuing the fight in court. Though Premier Clark’s government intends to destroy the existing ecosystem to “the point of no return,” in the weeks to come the Canadian government decides whether to issue new Site C permits.

Government Decides Whether To Issue New Site C Permits

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs - Courtesy the Wilderness Committee
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs at an auto Site C Demonstration in Vancouver – Courtesy the Wilderness Committee

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says, “It is time for a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations peoples, one that understands that the constitutionally guaranteed rights of First Nations in Canada are not an inconvenience but rather a sacred obligation.”

Treaty #8 states that local First Nations can use the land that will be flooded if the Site C Dam is built,  for as long as the sun will shine.

“The treaty promises no forced interference with our way of life. The issue we are having is that neither B.C. or Canada, have no done a regional a regional strategic environmental assessment or a cumulative impact assessment in regards to site C and shale gas development that is happening in northeastern B.C,” said Chief Roland Willson, of West Moberly First Nation.

According to the Wilderness Committee, BC Hydro testified in court that the legal implications of this project, in respect to Treaty rights of First Nations, were never considered at any point in the decision-making process.

Government Needs To Reject These Permits

North bank clearing and camp area - Don Hoffmann photo
North bank clearing and camp area – Don Hoffmann photo

So far, the Trudeau Government has simply allowed the policies of the previous regime to continue. Now they are being called upon to take an active role, issuing permits that will effect fish and wildlife habitat.

“The federal government needs to reject these permits – or at least put them on hold – so that construction activities including clearing of forest and excavating the river channel will stop, allowing for important legal challenges by First Nations and local landowner farmers in BC’s Peace River Valley to be addressed,” writes Joe Foy of the Wilderness Committee.

“They need to hear from your Member of Parliament that their constituents care about the damage being caused by the Site C Dam and want the federal government to take action.”

Click on this link to access a form on the Wilderness Committee website where you can write you MP.

Top Photo Credit: Equipment working on the North bank Site C dam site – Don Hoffmann photo

One thought on “Government Decides Whether To Issue New Site C Permits”

  1. the permits must not be issued and the government of BC must be held accountable for the mess on the banks of the Peace River, and must reforest that entire area

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