BC HYDRO
BC Hydro responds to Amnesty International report on Site C and resource development in northeast B.C.

BC Hydro provided a response to an Amnesty International report on the effects of energy development in northeast British Columbia, specifically in relation to the Site C Clean Energy Project.

Amnesty International has raised a number of important issues with respect to the resource economy, community services and broad determinants of health and wellness for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. At BC Hydro, we care about these issues as well, and have developed extensive mitigation measures through consultation with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, as part of careful project planning, and are also engaged in ongoing monitoring during construction and operations. Additional measures specific to each Aboriginal community are part of existing agreements and ongoing discussions.

A recently issued backgrounder [PDF, 279 KB] describes community mitigation measures already implemented during the first year of Site C construction, and our Regional and Community Benefits information sheet [PDF, 77 KB] describes the variety of measures to support local communities. Many of these measures directly support women, children and families in the Peace region, including: providing funding for new childcare spaces, committing $1.1 million to local non-profits, building a total of 50 units of long-term affordable housing, contributing over $1 million to regional and Aboriginal skills training initiatives and providing funding for additional local policing.

In fact, local workers make up approximately half of the employment on the Site C project. There are also approximately 200 Aboriginal workers currently working on site, and, to date, there has been significant involvement of Aboriginal businesses in site preparation work, including security services, clearing and road and bridge construction. So far, BC Hydro has committed more than $100 million in Site C procurement opportunities to Aboriginal companies, in addition to the procurement opportunities offered by our contractors, who also directly engage Aboriginal companies. An example is our camp medical clinic, which is being provided by Halfway River International SOS Medical Ltd., a partnership between Halfway River First Nation and International SOS.

Amnesty International's report does not consider our specific project plans or proactive measures taken by BC Hydro to address socio-economic and community concerns related to the Site C project. Had they asked us, we would have been pleased to discuss our project and our approach to addressing community concerns. We welcome Amnesty International to contact us at any time.

The Site C Clean Energy Project is a hydroelectric dam and generating station under construction in northeast B.C. The project is being built to meet long-term electricity needs in B.C. Once complete in 2024, the project will provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity for more than 100 years.