Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

A Chronology Of Events In The Site C Dam Project In British Columbia

The Canadian Press, 12 Dec, 2017 02:10 PM
    VICTORIA — A chronology of events in British Columbia's Site C hydroelectric dam project:
     
    Late 1950s: The location for a third dam on the Peace River is first looked at after the locations of WAC Bennett Dam and Peace Canyon Dam were identified.
     
    1970s: Engineering work is done to determine the feasibility of a third dam.
     
    1989: Plans for Site C are shelved because of local opposition to the project. 
     
    March 2001: The chairman of BC Hydro says he would like to see the project revived and get fast-track approval from the government.
     
    April 2004: BC Hydro includes Site C in a package of initiatives it is studying to boost the province's long-term supply of hydroelectricity.
     
    December 2007: Preliminary cost estimates for Site C show the project could cost between $5 billion and $6.6 billion, doubling previous estimates by the province.
     
    April 2010: The B.C. government announces plan to build Site C.
     
    December 2013: Public hearings begin on the project.
     
    May 2014: A joint review panel gives no clear yes or no answer but says B.C. will need new energy at some point. It says the project would cause significant adverse effects on the environment and wildlife, as well as Aboriginal communities and farmers in the area.
     
    October 2014: Provincial and federal environmental certificates are issued. 
     
    December 2014: The B.C. government makes the decision to go ahead with construction.
     
    July 2015: Construction begins on Site C.
     
    July 2015: The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a petition by the Peace Valley Landowner Association challenging provincial environmental approval of Site C. An appeal was dismissed in September 2016.
     
    August 2015: The federal court dismissed an application by Prophet River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations challenging environmental approval of Site C by the federal government. An appeal was dismissed in January 2017. 
     
    February 2016: A judge orders protesters to leave their tent camp near the construction site after BC Hydro seeks an injunction.
     
    December 2016: The government says the project is on schedule and on budget.
     
    March 2017: The government says more than 2,000 workers are employed at Site C.
     
    Aug. 2, 2017: The province's newly sworn-in NDP government asks the B.C. Utilities Commission to review the project as it considers cancelling or delaying its construction.
     
    Aug. 28, 2017: A United Nations panel says construction of the dam should be stopped until there is a full review of how it would affect Indigenous land.
     
    Nov. 1, 2017: The B.C. Utilities Commission says the project is over budget and behind schedule in its report to the government, which promises a decision on Site C's future by the end of the year.
     
    Dec. 11, 2017: Premier John Horgan says the dam will be completed but the price tag is expected to rise from $8.3 billion to $10.7 billion.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    NDP, Greens unite to support electoral reform ahead of vote; Liberals opposed

    NDP, Greens unite to support electoral reform ahead of vote; Liberals opposed
    The minority NDP government, supported by three members of the Green party, is poised to pass legislation today that paves the way for the referendum on Nov. 30, 2018.

    NDP, Greens unite to support electoral reform ahead of vote; Liberals opposed

    Repeat bad drivers can expect dramatically longer prohibitions in B.C.

    Repeat bad drivers can expect dramatically longer prohibitions in B.C.
    The Ministry of Public Safety says starting Dec. 1 prohibitions ranging from three to 36 months will replace existing 15-day penalties for those drivers and other repeat offenders.

    Repeat bad drivers can expect dramatically longer prohibitions in B.C.

    Police uniforms, vehicles no longer allowed in Vancouver Pride parade

    Police uniforms, vehicles no longer allowed in Vancouver Pride parade
    She says the decision was made in September after more than a year of community consultations where members of the LGBTQ community told board members they were uncomfortable seeing uniformed officers or police vehicles at the event because of historic police oppression.

    Police uniforms, vehicles no longer allowed in Vancouver Pride parade

    Softwood lumber: Canada takes its complaint to the World Trade Organization

    Softwood lumber: Canada takes its complaint to the World Trade Organization
    A similar battle dragged on for four years at the WTO in the last instalment of the Canada-U.S. softwood dispute

    Softwood lumber: Canada takes its complaint to the World Trade Organization

    PM Trudeau to name new Supreme Court judge to replace retiring McLachlin

    PM Trudeau to name new Supreme Court judge to replace retiring McLachlin
    Insiders say the announcement will not include naming a new chief justice.

    PM Trudeau to name new Supreme Court judge to replace retiring McLachlin

    Man accused in B.C. police officer's death appears in Abbotsford court

    Man accused in B.C. police officer's death appears in Abbotsford court
    Oscar Arfmann, 65, of Alberta, is charged in the death of Abbotsford Const. John Davidson, who died Nov. 6 after responding to a report of shots fired at members of the public.

    Man accused in B.C. police officer's death appears in Abbotsford court