If Canadians are going to have to pay the $10 to $15-billion cost of expanding the Trans Mountain pipeline, it's important they aren't bound by side deals that are not in the public interest made by the project's former corporate owner.
In fiscal year 2008, according to the “upstream development division” of B.C.’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, British Columbians received $1.16 billion in royalty revenues. By 2017, however, revenues had fallen nearly 90 per cent to $147 million.
Hydro’s incentive program that pays home solar producers for electricity beyond what they need themselves is the cutting edge of climate collapse amelioration. These rebates have been available for 14 years; Hydro has 1,330 customers; 95% of them installed solar. Hydro will apply to the BC Utilities Commission to end the part of the program that allows production beyond the owner’s need. It will continue for those already on that track, but would be unavailable for new applicants.
When lawyers for B.C. Premier John Horgan’s government return to the courtroom this summer in the continuing battle over the Site C dam, their co-defendants will be notably absent.
The federal government, which approved the $10.7-billion project in 2014, has served notice to the courts that it will not oppose an injunction that aims to halt construction.
Media release
8 May 2018
Government tactics in Site C injunction hearing already at odds with BC’s commitments to respect Indigenous rights
https://witnessforthepeace.ca/
First Nations and human rights groups are questioning why lawyers for the government of BC and BC Hydro wanted to exclude important evidence about the Site C dam from an injunction hearing set to begin this July.
