To the editor:
Contractors: You have knowingly entered into contracts for the Site C power project.
At the time of signing contracts, you were well aware of substantial opposition to the project: multiple legal challenges, over 100,000 signatories, the Union of BC Municipalities, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, no increase in electricity use; no need for the project, and myriad alternatives at lower cost.
You were also aware of opposition by:
1. The former Chair of the Joint Review Panel, Dr. Harry Swain
2. A former CEO of BC Hydro
3. Former B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt
4. First Nations whose Treaty rights were not being honoured.
You were aware that the Government of BC had used devious measures to enable project approval:
1. Excluded review by the BC Utilities Commission.
2. Excluded land areas to be affected from the review by the Agricultural Land Commission.
3. Excluded two existing electricity sources from consideration.
BC Hydro, BC Hydro Board of Directors, and BC Government: You have intentionally created a situation which circumvents essential aspects of major project approvals.
Acting in bad faith?
Contractors, BC Hydro, BC Hydro Board of Directors and BC Government: Despite this knowledge, all parties willfully agreed to proceed with signing contracts for goods and services to build the Site C project.
Did the various parties act in bad faith and is the public good being served? Given the above compelling facts, it is evident that all parties acted in bad faith and that the public good is not being served. As a consequence, all work must stop, and equipment orders delayed, renegotiated or cancelled. You are being asked to withdraw your services and goods at the earliest possible time, further – any contracts entered into beyond this date by yourselves, jointly or severally, will not be honoured by the residents of British Columbia.
Roger Bryenton
Vancouver