BC needs to put the public back in power, say delegates at MORE POWER TO YOU conference who gathered to strategize about the gov

Sunday, October 5, 2008

VANCOUVER – It’s time to put the public back in power when it comes to British Columbia’s electrical generation system. That was the overwhelming conclusion reached by 150 leaders from First Nations, environmental, labour, and community organizations who met together for the first time at the MORE POWER TO YOU conference organized by the Vancouver-based grassroots organization BC Citizens for Public Power.   

“British Columbians from across the province, and representing so many sectors of our community, share a deep concern—even outrage—about the proliferation of private electrical power projects that negatively affect our environment while dramatically driving up BC Hydro rates for consumers,” said Melissa Davis, BC Citizens for Public Power Executive Director. 

“The one solution we all agree on is that the public must be put back in power.” The Wilderness Committee’s Gwen Barlee outlined objections to private power projects that, according to the BC Energy Plan, will supply 40% of all BC electricity by 2020. 

“These private power projects are poorly planned, undemocratic and are hurting the environment,” Barlee said. There is a right way and a wrong way to do green power—and unfortunately, in BC, we are doing it the wrong way." 

In his keynote address, former broadcaster Rafe Mair, spokesperson for the Save Our Rivers Society, made a blunt assessment of the BC Liberal government that is responsible for privatizing public power generation. 

“When a government ceases to care about people, and prefers ideologically committed friends, it's time to change that government," Mair said. 

Conference participants travelled from Northern BC, Vancouver Island, the Kootenays, the Interior, and Greater Vancouver to listen to a range of speakers and to attend workshops.
Presenters included Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs; John Calvert, author of Liquid Gold: Energy Privatization in British Columbia; and environmental lawyers Mark Haddock and Lara Tessaro. 

Davis said the 150 participants left with more in-depth knowledge about the issue, training tools to launch grassroots campaigns in their home communities, and a resource binder containing research reports and training materials.

She said plans for new citizens-driven campaigns against private power were developed at the conference and will be launched this fall. 

“Watch for British Columbians actively monitoring rivers and creeks in their communities that have been licenced for private power project development,” Davis said. “This is the start of a new defence of our waterways across the province.” 

For more information: Melissa Davis – 604.681.5939 or cell 778.887.5878.