British Columbian politicians held out promises for the development of renewables, when the Meikle wind project was announced two months ago. The Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennet, said, “Independent power projects continue to play an important role in powering our province. Our decision to proceed with Site C provides a firm energy source that will support the integration of more wind energy projects in the future.” To which Mike Bernier, the MLA for Peace River South, chirped in, “the energy sector is providing employment and economic opportunities.” One of the headlines in the March 2015 North American Windpower states, “BC Wind Industry Seeks Clear Signal.” The same statement could be asked by the geothermal, solar, and river diversion projects – but does BC need the electricity?
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War On The Woods Returns To the Walbran
By Roy L Hales
The struggle to save the Walbran valley’s ancient trees, in a intact Old Forest ecosystem, started in the 1980s. This led to the logging blockades and the provincial government setting a portion of this area in the Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park. A Surrey based logging company recently applied to harvest eight cutblocks of the unprotected area and on last month the Ministry of Forests gave them permission to start in cutback 4424. Friends of Carmanah/Walbran responded by setting up a community witness camp. Yesterday, September 9, Teal Jones’ road building crews were turned away. Thus it is that war on the woods returns To the Walbran.
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To Demonstrate Their Ownership Of Madii Lii
By Roy L Hales
It has been fourteen months since the Luutkudziiwus chiefs declared their land closed to all LNG traffic and other unauthorized industrial activity. Hereditary Chief Nola says Madii Lii camp was built to “stop the injustice that is being perpetrated on our people.” In the face of aggressive actions spearheaded by the government of British Columbia, the house of Luuktkudziiwus needed to demonstrate their ownership of Madii Lii.
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The Protests Have Begun At Site C
There were around 50 local residents and First Nations members gathered in front of the Old Fort Road entrance to the Site C Dam project. They arrived at 10 a.m. on Saturday, carried signs saying things like “Site C sucks,” “No Consent for Site C,” “Stop Site C, Run Burrard Thermal” and “Shame.” In the photograph at the top of this page, you see them blocking the gravel road, but this was a peaceful assembly and they moved aside when a truck drove up. The protests have begun at Site C.
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Luutkudziiwus Were Not Consulted
By Roy L Hales
The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project’s website proudly displays press releases about their agreements with the Lake Babine, Kitselas and Gitanyou First Nations. They also display the results of a 2014 poll that reports most of the people along the proposed pipeline route support them. The BC government has already issued construction permit and environmental assessment permit. Yet, according to their lawyer, the Luutkudziiwus were not consulted about the 34 km stretch of pipeline that would cross their traditional territory to carry 2 billion to 3.6 billion cubic feet of gas, per day, from Hudson’s Hope to the proposed LNG facility on Lelu Island.
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