Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Energy, Politics

BC transmission line risks repeating Site C failures: critics

 Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

The rush to develop BC’s $6-billion North Coast Transmission Line risks charging down the same troubled path of poor oversight and cost over-runs faced by the Site C dam, critics warn, pointing to a new report.

At the end of October, BC Hydro provided the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) with its Site C “lessons learned” report, which outlined why the Peace River project costs nearly doubled to $16 billion from the original $8.8 billion figure in 2014. 

The North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL), which will power natural gas operations, LNG export facilities, mining and the Prince Rupert port expansion, is the next big-ticket item tackled by BC Hydro. 

Continue reading BC transmission line risks repeating Site C failures: critics →
Energy, Politics

Carney supercharges BC’s northern grid with nation-building label

 Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the addition of the North Coast Transmission Line to his list of projects of national importance on Thursday.

The $6-billion transmission line in northern BC will now be fast-tracked by the Major Projects Office, developed by the federal government to speed proposals expected to boost Canada’s economy and lessen trade dependence with the United States and the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime.

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Indigenous Nations

Cariboo nation calls B.C. out on misinformation about Aboriginal title

By Andie Mollins, The Williams Lake Tribune, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Tŝilhqot’in National Government (TNG) is calling on governments to set the facts straight around Aboriginal title and to stop what TNG calls fear-mongering.

“It’s been working well, it’s been happening for 11 years…I don’t know why B.C. is not coming forward and sharing those facts” said Jenny Philbrick, executive director of the TNG, about the nation’s own declaration of title.

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Energy, Indigenous Nations

BC and First Nations unite to defend tanker ban

 Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

The BC coast is “not for sale.”

BC Premier David Eby and coastal First Nations sent that message to Ottawa on Wednesday as they called on the federal government to uphold the oil tanker ban on the province’s north coast.

Eby and First Nation leaders stressed oil spills would cause irreversible environmental harm, the destruction of critical marine ecosystems and significant economic damage to First Nations and coastal communities.

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Forests

Long-awaited changes to BC’s private forests not coming, government confirms

 Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

Local governments on Vancouver Island are frustrated after finally receiving a long-awaited answer to when legislative changes are coming to the law governing how some forest lands are managed in BC.

The answer: with the trade war targeting BC lumber, the priority is protecting forestry jobs. In short, after years of fighting, change is not coming.

Continue reading Long-awaited changes to BC’s private forests not coming, government confirms →