Perspective on Site C: A Panel Discussion

PERSPECTIVES ON SITE C: A PANEL DISCUSSION

DOUG MCARTHUR, EOIN FINN, PAUL KARIYA, KAREN BAKKER, & DEAN DOKKIE

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 5:00PM–8:00PM, ROOM C100, UBC ROBSON SQUARE, 800 ROBSON ST, VANCOUVER

Sponsored by SFU's Intitute for the Humanities and Board of Change

Event is FREE for Institute attendees if registered in advance by 4pm on April 20th. Please contact insthum@sfu.ca to register. There may be a charge at the door, otherwise.

THE SITE C DAM: WHAT ARE THE MERITS OF COMPLETING IT OR DISCONTINUING IT?

As Site C construction continues, and the provincial election nears, controversy over the project is intensifying, rather than abating. As the price tag approaches $9 billion (with potential to rise even higher), even as the anticipated power demand increase from a new Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) industry has not materialized, and with concerns regarding First Nations Treaties, environmental issues, and the loss of high value food production lands remaining, the project has implications for all British Columbians. Yet public discussion has been limited. This event brings together a panel of experts to explore the Site C dam from First Nations, economic, policy, and energy perspectives, including the pros and cons of halting construction of the dam despite the billions of dollars already spent and committed. 

SCHEDULE

5:00pm: Registration begins 
6:00pm: Panel and Q&A 
8:00pm: Event close

SPEAKERS

Doug McArthur has been appointed director of Simon Fraser University’s School of Public Policy, beginning his new role on September 1. McArthur, who joined SFU’s public policy program as a founding member in 2003, will succeed current director professor Nancy Olewiler. Prior to joining SFU, McArthur was a senior fellow in public policy at the University of British Columbia.

Former KPMG partner Eoin Finn, will present a high-level cost benefit analysis of the Site C Dam to show which path is best for the BC economy and BC taxpayers. Dr. Finn is a management consultant with 30 years business experience and a retired partner of the global accounting /management consulting firm, KPMG. Eoin holds a B.Sc and Ph. D., both in Chemistry, and an MBA degree. Eoin has studied and published several articles analyzing the business case for BC Hydro’s proposed Site C dam. These analyses have looked at trends affecting the need for the dam’s electricity, the likely capital and operating costs and revenues, and the availability of practical alternatives to the dam.

Paul Kariya, the Executive Director of Clean Energy BC, the industry association representing private sector power producers in BC, will discuss the state of clean energy power development in BC and present the case for whether the Clean Energy Sector in BC can produce sufficient new power supplies to meet future electrical energy demand at the same or lower average cost per kwh than the Site C Dam. Paul Kariya has broad experience working in the academic, not-for-profit and public sectors federally and provincially. He was CEO of the provincial crown corporation Fisheries Renewal BC, and Executive Director of the BC Treaty Commission.  Paul holds degrees from UBC and Clark University in Massachusetts. He is a west coaster and the son of a fisherman.

Karen Bakker is a Professor, Canada Research Chair, and founding Director of the Program on Water Governance at the University of British Columbia. The program is dedicated to the dissemination of academic research on water issues to policy makers and the broader community. Dr. Bakker is the author of more than 100 academic publications on water governance and water security issues, and has given invited talks on her research at Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, and Oxford. She regularly acts as an advisor and consultant to national and international organizations, which have in the past included Natural Resources Canada, UNDP, UNESCO, and the OECD. She is a Board Member of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and also a member of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. She is also the co-author of five reports on Site C, covering regulatory issues, First Nations issues, environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic issues. She led the Statement of Concerned Scholars on Site C, signed by over 350 scholars, which is available at www.sitecstatement.org. The statement was supported by an unprecedented letter from the President of the Royal Society of Canada to the Prime Minister of Canada; this letter is also available on the same website.    

Dean Dokkie commenced his life career as a Manager for his community the West Moberly First Nation in 1981. Dean maintained the position for six years and then returned to continue his studies at the University College of Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, B.C. focusing on Political Science and Anthropology. Since then Dean has worked for many First Nations and Tribal Councils implementing First Nations initiatives and projects as Senior Management in various locations in Western Canada and Northwest United States. In the past 30 plus years Dean’s primary role has been working with First Nation leadership in areas of Oil and Gas, Forestry and Mining Industries. His extensive knowledge and experience have guided him to many accomplishments that benefit First Nation communities, Governments and Industries, ultimately specializing in Human Resources. Being a member of the West Moberly First Nation, Dean acquired his traditional knowledge and skills as trained by his father Chief John Dokkie Sr. who was the Hereditary Chief of the West Moberly Dunne’ Za/Cree Nation in Northeast British Columbia.

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Date: 
Thursday, April 20, 2017 - 17:00