Site C

The Ministry of Justice has hired an RCMP officer to look at the potential impact Site C could have on Fort St. John’s crime rate, but a final report isn't expected to be finished until October, four months after construction is expected to begin.

Site C construction could begin as early as July regardless of whether any of the lawsuits aimed at stopping the dam are concluded, the project's spokesperson told Dawson Creek City Council Monday.

B.C.'s Ministry of Transportation issued a tender for upgrades to three roads to improve safety and access to the Site C dam construction site June 9. The tender process will close June 30. All three roads are located near Fort St. John.

BC Hydro is in hot water with a group of local property owners. Peace Region resident Jared Giesbrecht said he has contacted a lawyer because of the impacts Old Fort Road residents would face during construction of the Site C dam.

West Moberly First Nation Chief Roland Willson said that while a decision could be made in provincial court regarding the Site C dam by July, it may take longer. “[The judge is] rendering his decision right now,” he said.

A report by a leading American energy economist says the Site C dam is likely to be more than twice as expensive as a combination of renewable energy and natural gas alternatives.

When Paul Paquette learned he would be building a piece of the Site C dam, he was thrilled. "It's huge. I was excited," he said. "I get to employ a lot of local people, which I was happy about.

BC Hydro’s Site C dam suffered a legal setback on Friday when a judge ruled against an attempt to stop a judicial review from hearing certain aspects of their case. A Federal hearing on the matter is now set for the week of July 20.

West Moberly First Nation Chief Roland Willson is taking his anti-Site C message down south this week, with three speaking engagements in Victoria, Vancouver and Kamloops, respectively.

A federal court judge will hear arguments Friday about whether to quash a lawsuit from four Northeast B.C. First Nations hoping to stop the Site C dam.