Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Energy

Vancouver Ranks Last For Solar Policy Among Canadian Cities

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By Roy L Hales

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One can’t help but notice the timing of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation’s (SPEC) list ranking Canadian Cities on their Solar Energy Policy. Vancouver, which hopes to become the World’s greenest city, is hosting the Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum at the Four Seasons Hotel, May 13-15. Though Vancouver has done well in many areas, SPEC has long maintained that the city’s solar energy policy is not one of them. According to its’ survey of 17 municipalities: Vancouver ranks last for solar policy among Canadian Cities; Edmonton, Toronto & Calgary are policy leaders.

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Environment, Indigenous Nations

Mercury Contamination Stiffens Opposition to Site C Dam

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By Roy L. Hales

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Though construction on British Columbia’s W.A.C. Bennet dam began 54 years ago, fish are still so contaminated with mercury they are unfit for human consumption. Chief Roland Willson, of West Moberly First Nation, said BC started issuing health advisories after the dam was built. On May 11, 2015, he brought 200 pounds of contaminated bull trout to the legislature lawn for a press conference calling on the B.C. government to reverse its decision to approve the controversial $9 billion Site C dam. Willson said poisoning fish is a violation of Treaty #8.

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Arts, Forests

Powell River vs Island Timberlands

Originally published on Heartwood, Field Notes

Powell River has been fighting for its urban forests, which are slated to be logged by Island Timberlands. I.T. has been at the forefront of many forestry conflicts on the west coast of British Columbia, from Cortes Island to Port Alberni to Powell River. Communities are uniting to oppose the logging practices of Island Timberlands, which is the second largest landowner in BC, with over 235,000 Ha. of private managed forestland on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Sunshine Coast. I.T. is majority owned by the BCIMC, the arms-length investment firm of the BC government, which invests all the public sector pension funds. The BC Teachers’ Federation, whose pensions are invested in I.T., recently filed a motion to oppose I.T,’s more controversial logging practices in the Alberni Valley.

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Environment

Is BC Setting The Stage For Another Mount Polley Disaster?

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Twenty-four million cubic meters of silt, metals and water spilled into the adjacent waterways, when the Mount Polley tailings pond dam breached. It has been called one of Canada’s worst environmental disasters. The province’s independent review panel made six recommendations, one of which was that tailings and water should not be mixed anymore in BC. This did not please the mining companies who say dry stacking of tailings would cost too much. The Clark Government appears to concur. An application to restart Mount Polley, with tailings in water, is under consideration. The Secwepemc Peoples regard this as “a violation of sovereignty” which “opens the territory up to further damage.” Is BC  setting the stage for another Mount Polley Disaster?

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Environment

BC’s Requirements For Disclosing Fracking Chemicals

Despite the problems, Dr Allan Hoffman (a retired senior executive from the US Department of Energy) believes there is simply too much money invested in the fracking revolution to stop it. With proper regulation and enforcement, he believes it is possible to reduce the number of incidents to an acceptable level. If this statement seems jarring, remember everyone who drives a car is taking an acceptable risk whenever they get behind the wheel. So what are BC’s Requirements For Disclosing Fracking Chemicals?

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