Union of B.C. Municipalities Calls on Provincial Government to Abandon Key Aspects of Energy Policy: Mayors, Councillors and Are

In a remarkable display of opposition to the Provincial Government’s energy plan, the majority of delegates – rural and urban - at the 100th Union of BC Municipalities Convention (UBCM) today passed a resolution urging the Government to back down on its electricity restructuring agenda in the strongest possible terms.

In a remarkable display of opposition to the Provincial Government’s energy plan, the majority of delegates – rural and urban - at the 100th Union of BC Municipalities Convention (UBCM) today passed a resolution urging the Government to back down on its electricity restructuring agenda in the strongest possible terms.

In particular, the UBCM resolution calls for the Government to abandon plans to join RTO West, the consortium of private U.S. companies being launched to take over electricity transmission throughout the Northwest. Delegates spoke against the loss of sovereignty such a move would represent and voiced their concern that joining RTO West would mean linking our historically stable system to one that has proven unreliable. By giving away control of all transmission functions, delegates believe that British Columbians would unnecessarily be exposed to blackouts and system instability.

The resolution also called on the Government to reverse course with BC Transmission Corporation (BCTC) – the new private company established several weeks ago by the Government which strips away one third of BC Hydro and places it in a separate company. UBCM delegates strongly urged the Government to terminate the operations of BCTC and return the transmission function to BC Hydro. The public utility, BC Hydro, is the envy of jurisdictions around the world because of the many benefits it provides as an “integrated public utility.” Breaking the utility up destroys these advantages.

The only reason ever given for the creation of BCTC is that it is necessary to split BC Hydro up in order to participate in the U.S. energy market. This is simply untrue. Even the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in a recent White Paper that breaking up utilities is not necessary. Of course, many worry that the real reason for splitting off transmission into a separate company is that the Government intends to sell it off some time in the future and is preparing it for sale by stripping the asset out of BC Hydro as a first step.

While BC Liberal MLAs and political appointees spent an enormous of time this week lobbying community representatives in opposition to today’s resolution, they were clearly rebuffed by the majority of delegates at the Convention.

“This Government has to start listening to the people. Whether it’s the Coquihalla or privatizing electricity and breaking up BC Hydro, the Premier and his Government run a terrible risk if they insist on destroying treasured assets like BC Hydro. Hopefully, they will listen to the province’s community leaders on this important issue,” said John Young, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Power.

Among the signatories to the statement and resolution in support of public power passed this morning are the following:

Jim Abram (Former President, UBCM) • Lisa Barrett (Mayor, Bowen Island) • Fred Bass (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Nate Bello (Mayor, City of Quesnel) •Judy Brownoff (District of Saanich, Chair, CRD) • David Cadman (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Pietro Calendino (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Larry Campbell (Mayor, City of Vancouver) • Dan Cooper (Town of Port McNeill) • Derek Corrigan (Mayor, City of Burnaby) • Sav Dhaliwal (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Vic Derman (Councillor, District of Saanich) • Doug Evans (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Rob Fleming (Councillor, City of Victoria) • Dean Fortin (Councillor, City of Victoria) • Bob Gillespie (Councillor, District of Central Saanich) •Bill Goodacre (Town of Smithers) • Kara Kahakumila (District of Metchosin) • Maurine Karagiamis (Esquimalt) • Karen Goodings (Area Representative, Peace River Regional District) • Jim Green (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Gary Holman (Salt Spring Director, CRD) • Dan Johnston (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Colleen Jordan (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Maurine Karagianis (Councillor, District of Esquimalt) • Raymond Louie (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Tim Louis (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Erik Lund (JDF Electoral Area) • Michey Macri (Squamish Lillooet RD) • Pam Madoff (Councillor, City of Victoria) • Ken McRae (Mayor, Port Alberni) • Suzanne Murray (Comox-Strathcona RD) Darrell Mussatto (City of North Vancouver) • Russ Oakley (Director Squamish-Lilloet Regional District) • Tom Pater (Comox-Strathcona RD) •Jim Peever (City of Burnaby) • Gilbert Popovich (Mayor, Alert Bay) • Barbara Price (Comox-Strathcona RD Area B) • Peter Rambo (Comox-Strathcona RD) • Lee Rankin (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Celeste Redman (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Anne Roberts (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Joe Robertson (City of Burnaby) • Denis Savoie (Councillor, City of Victoria) • Goerge Sirk (Icortes Isl., Comox-Strathcona RD) • Tim Stevenson (Councillor, City of Vancouver) • Judy Villeneuve (Councillor, City of Surrey) • Nick Volkow (Councillor, City of Burnaby) • Karen Watson (District of Metchnosin) • Ellen Woodsworth (Councillor, City of Vancouver)