He needs a legal decision to decide weather he could shut down non essential inter provincial travel during the Covid crisis between Alta and BC when he can use emergency power. It is inconceivable that BC Hydro is reportedly spending $100 million every month to continue construction, despite the countless critical concerns and the irrefutable fact that the dam may never be completed. BC Hydro says it has committed to not move any Site C worker in self-isolation at camp into the city. has been flat since 2005 and recent mill closures have reduced provincial energy consumption.. LNG Canada, a consortium of some of the world’s most profitable oil and gas corporations, cut its workforce in half in response to the … It is not an emergency service. Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, concluded, “Site C isn’t a dam, it’s a money pit. Site C Dam construction must be immediately halted: Union of BC Indian... Air Canada to resume Boeing 737 MAX commercial operations on February 1, Conservative Leader O’Toole initiates process to kick out Derek Sloan from caucus, Vancouver Police officer suffers broken leg in mask dispute, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau wishes a very happy Republic Day to all Indians, Terence Corcoran: A global mad green news roundup - Daily Post USA, 22 FIRs filed in Delhi tractor rally violence; 86 cops injured. The West Moberly First Nations have treaty-protected rights to hunt, fish, trap and practice their traditional way of life in the Peace River Valley. The independent experts clearly weren’t fooled. Construction at the Site C dam, where there have been 17 COVID-19 cases to date. BC Hydro has reported 40 cases of COVID-19 related to Site C since March 1, 2020, including one new cases Jan. 20. Several leaders are calling for the shutdown of construction work camps associated with the Site C dam on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia while the province deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC) There is only one turbine runner being transported to the site at a time and the . News Release January 18, 2021. A massive turbine part for the Site C dam, shown here at highway weigh scales near Vanderhoof, is being transported 1,000 kilometres across northern B.C. The province continues to bleed cash for an unstable project that continues to endanger the Title and Rights of First Nations and the health and safety of many communities. It is evident the financial interests of British Columbia must be aligned with First Nation Title and Rights – aligned with the preservation and conservation of our environment and the continued stewardship of our lands and waters for generations to come. Justice G. Bruce Butler of the B.C. Leaders debate 2020: Is the Site C Dam project the NDP’s dumpster fire? Most damning of all, independent experts say there's no demand for the Site C Dam. Its market is also in deep trouble. Shut down construction sites until COVID-19 threat has passed, says wife of worried worker, $40B LNG project cuts hundreds of workers to prevent COVID-19 spread in B.C. Construction of Site C is destroying the precious and irreplaceable Peace River Valley – and wasting billions of dollars that the province can’t afford – all for a project that will almost certainly never be completed.”. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Shut Down Site C Now, Communists Urge. The utilities company says it has also implemented several safety measures at the site including scaling back on construction, restricting non-essential travel for employees and consultants and postponing non-essential site tours. Now, Site C is just a few months away from rerouting the Peace River near Fort St John, a temporary measure that could last … Our top priority is the health and safety of our employees, contractors and members of the public. ... on a promise to kill the Site C dam. “The province has all the reasons it could possibly need to shut down this boondoggle,” said Grand Chief Stewart, UBCIC President. Unsafe in Every Sense: Site C Dam Construction Must Be Immediately Halted. A massive piece of dam equipment that's heavier than a space shuttle is being transported from Brazil through northern B.C., bound for the controversial Site C dam mega-project near Fort St. John. "Given the close quarters and inevitable contact points at the [worker camp], an outbreak of COVID-19 would be disastrous and with dire implications for nearby communities, including First Nation communities," it read. ], […] suffers from financial and technical problems. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the independent, non-governmental expert body responsible for oversight of a binding anti-racism treaty ratified by Canada more than a half-century ago. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Photo By BC Hydro The West Moberly First Nation is warning the John Horgan government that it will seek another injunction against the Site C dam if the government doesn’t halt work pending a cabinet decision on whether it's safe to proceed. The Site C dam could be up and running by 2020, providing about 900 megawatts of power and 4,600 gigawatt hours of electricity every year, Premier Gordon Campbell said Monday. . Byron Stewart argued for a shutdown as well. Voice newspaper is your news, top stories, crime stories, entertainment, sports, events, auto and health website. Lori Ackerman, the mayor of Fort St. John, says BC Hydro has worked with Northern Health to build up specific protocols related to the outbreak. LNG Canada winds down, Site C work presses on amid coronavirus pandemic. You have entered an incorrect email address! That correction was not sent to The VOICE. Provinces always look askance (or worse) when a federal government tries to stick its nose in their constitutionally-protected business, whatever it might be. An excavator dredges out a channel at the entrance to one of the river diversion tunnels on B.C. The NDP government designated the Site C dam — slated to be completed in 2024 — an essential service even though energy demand in B.C. Site C COVID-19. BC Hydro has reported 40 cases of COVID-19 related to Site C since March 1, 2020, including one new cases Jan. 20. The Peace River Regional District says there are “very serious concerns” with a BC Hydro plan that could see hundreds of trucks per day hauling rock materials down to Site C. The 85th Avenue industrial lands next to Fort St. John are being excavated for glacial till, needed to construct the earth fill dam core and approach channel lining. It says there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Site C. Fort St. John, the city closest to the campsites, declared a local state of emergency Tuesday, in part due to concerns infected workers at the site could overwhelm the local hospital. A pathetic weak Premier. But construction workers continue to work at residential and industrial projects. At 170 tonnes, the turbine part is so big it took consultants two years of planning to prepare for its transportation. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs has asked Premier John Horgan to immediately cancel the project as it is “massively destructive and […]. "[And] we have put in fairly strict requirements for things like [Site C].". Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Several leaders are calling for the shutdown of construction work camps associated with the Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia while the province deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. This highly discriminatory and dishonest conduct of Canada may be a preview of what will happen if the province continues to fight for Site C in court. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. ... but work on the Site C Dam in B.C.’s Peace Region is pressing ahead amid the growing novel coronavirus crisis. and Alberta, despite calls from the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and Fort St. John city councillors to shut down the project during the pandemic. It is not a front-line service. THE Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) said on Monday that a new report by Premier John Horgan’s special advisor on Site C provides yet another reason why this massively destructive and massively over-budget project must be stopped. The lawsuit seeks compensation or an order to shut it down and return the river valley to its natural state. to shut down work camps or risk further community spread with northern hospitals already stretched thin. "In all honesty, Site C ... is not a vital thing to our society. Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, concluded, “Site C isn’t a dam, it’s a money pit. One of the more intriguing demands by those opposing the Site C dam is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau step in and block its construction, using the argument that the dam infringes First Nations' rights and poses environmental risk. Chief Don Tom, UBCIC Vice President, said: “In a move that betrays all efforts to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the federal and provincial governments tried to convince the UN anti-racism committee that destroying the Peace River Valley was consistent with Canada’s human rights commitments. BC Hydro also warned of the “likely” risk of additional engineering costs. For years, the project has faced vocal opposition and controversy. If you have a COVID-19-related story we should pursue that affects British Columbians, please email us at impact@cbc.ca. B.C. One of the more intriguing demands by those opposing the Site C dam is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau step in and block its construction, using the argument that the dam infringes First Nations' rights and poses environmental risk. And the dam will flood the Peace River Valley, forcing people from their homes and violating Indiginous Treaty Rights, destroying rich farmland, and submerging the habitat of 100 endangered species. "I personally would like the province to come in, shut it down and send everybody home.". B.C. After months of calls to shut down industrial work sites in northern B.C. "They have put in place protocols for social distancing and personal hygiene throughout the camp.". We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos as they occur. But construction workers continue to work at residential and industrial projects. Learn how your comment data is processed. Although BC Hydro has scaled back its workforce, it continues to fly workers in and out from across B.C. ... “The province has all the reasons it could possibly need to shut down this boondoggle,” stated Grand Chief Stewart, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC). It is a structure that is being built," said Stewart. It is inconceivable that BC Hydro is reportedly spending $100 million every month to continue construction, despite the countless critical concerns and the irrefutable fact that the dam may never be completed. B.C.’s first Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender tweeted that Canada should ignore its own laws and obey a United Nations directive to end three resource development projects including the Trans Mountain pipeline. (BC Hydro/Contributed) Under a provincial state of emergency declaration, restaurants, bars, hair salons and tattoo parlours have been ordered shut down. Coun. Indian Chiefs also asked for a shutdown, citing the risk of spread and the lack of adequate medical services in northeastern B.C. In a strongly worded letter, the Union of B.C. ... Site C dam construction is scheduled to be complete in 2024 or 2025. After a 1,000-kilometre journey across northern B.C. A pathetic weak Premier. 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