Opposition to major B.C. hydroelectric project gets riled up

The faces of those opposed to construction of a major hydroelectric development project in British Columbia came to life on Monday, in a new video released by environmental website Desmog Canada.

Interviewed by the site's Executive Director Emma Gilchrist, landowners, ranchers, First Nations and residents of the Peace Valley in northeastern British Columbia give arguments against the $8.8-billion Site C dam - a "clean energy" project, that would flood more than 100 kilometres of river valley bottoms along the Peace River and its tributaries.

Even though BC Hydro -the project's proponent- argues that the dam will produce enough power to light up roughly 450,000 homes per year, critics contest whether that power is necessary for B.C.

On top of that, some Indigenous leaders from Treaty 8 territory say that Site C would impact up to 337 archeological sites, would disrupt their livelihood and threaten B.C.’s food security by flooding highly productive agricultural land. Overall, the Indigenous leaders say the project would impact their constitutionally protected treaty rights.

Here's what they say on tape:

Disturbing the Peace: The Story of the Site C Dam. Video by Desmog Canada.

In spite of these allegations, BC Hydro representatives have said that out of the 13 Aboriginal groups that reside in the area, only the West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations remain opposed to the project in court.