Fort St. John – seems to always be in the public’s eye when it comes to the ongoing debate about the project of the Site C Dam. This is because there has been a conflict with the B.C. Hydro Company taking over First Nations Aboriginal’s land to create a dam for energy.
B.C. Hydro has however got environmental approval from the Canadian government that meets all environmental and First Nation’s requirements.
The approval of the Site C project still has not satisfied the First Nation Aboriginal people; as of this April they submitted and are a part of a legal case that centers around the ongoing issues of Site C project being built on their land. This is involving the Public Treat 8 Tribal Association.
B.C. Hydro originally planned that the project of Site C would actually begin this July; however, this is not the case as the project yet again been put on hold.
At this point, it seems to be a waiting game for both the First Nation Aboriginal people and the people of B.C. Hydro. As of this point it is all in the judge’s hand to come up with a decision keeping in mind the needs of the First Nation Aboriginal people and the eagerness of B.C Hydro to begin this project this summer.
At this point, the fate of the Site C Dam project is still up in the air.
It is important for the public to understand that this is not a small issue and the government is taking this problem into serious consideration. Hence, the reason why this ongoing problem will be taken to the Nation’s highest court.
Clark still remains optimistic about the site C project saying, “It’s my hope that we’ll get going this summer. We intend to move forward. I know there is going to be court action, as with any economic development project that’s large enough…but BC Hydro has done a decade of work on making sure that all of the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”
Nevertheless, the site C project seems to be put on hold and hopefully this is the last bump in the road for both the First Nations and for B.C. Hydro.
The construction was said to start this summer in July, but this seems to no longer be the case.
It also seems that no matter the adjustments the Hydro B.C makes the First Nations can never see eye to eye which is why this case is still ongoing in the Canadian courts.
With regards to this particular case, the judge will rely on the Sparrow Case of 1990 to help recognize and guide through the different aboriginal rights before making a final decision.
Many people do not see the decision to be made anytime soon; nevertheless; the deadline is to be for July 8th, 2015.
