Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

April 27th, 2008

Revelstoke area to be heavily impacted by private power developments

At Saturday night’s Rivers at Risk meeting, local residents gathered to learn more about the BC Energy Plan and the proposed private power developments that will affect the rivers and creeks in the Revelstoke area.

Sponsored by the Council of Canadians, COPE 378 and the Wilderness Committee, the theme of the forum was ‘Power to the People?’ and addressed the need for the public’s inclusion in decision-making concerning the development of river-diversion projects.  Concerned citizens raised questions about why they were being cut out of the process.

Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald spoke about the need to repeal Bill 30, Section 56 which removes local government from the process and encouraged participants to take action.

“In my constituency, Revelstoke will be the most heavily impacted by river-diversion projects with more than 20 projects, active or proposed, between Shelter Bay and Mica,” said Macdonald.  “Residents feel that this is a give-away of their public resource.”

During the question and answer period, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of Norm Macdonald as well as representatives from the Council of Canadians and COPE 378.  Concerns raised included the possible lack of access to hunting and fishing area due to road closures and no trespassing designations, an increased cost to ratepayers from buying high and selling low, and the danger for species at risk if rivers and riparian areas are permanently changed.

Macdonald spoke of the recent win on the Upper Pitt River where public pressure forced the government to deny a private power developer approval to put transmission lines through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park.

“People should not feel powerless to stop these developments,” continued Macdonald.  “On the Upper Pitt, 1200 people turning up at a public meeting changed the Minister’s mind.  People do have the ability to affect public policy and if people are really serious about opposing the BC Energy Plan they can do it.”

Participants at the forum to were told to send emails to the Premier and the Energy Minister at premier@gov.bc.ca and empr.minister@gov.bc.ca and to join organizations that are currently opposing the BC Energy Plan such as the Citizens for Public Power campaign (www.publicpowerbc.ca) and the Council of Canadians.