Former Socred cabinet minister turned broadcaster Rafe Mair will be joining Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald at a rally against the Glacier-Howser project.
Mair held three positions with the Socred government, under William Richard Bennett, from 1975-1981. His various appointments were with consumer/corporate health, environment and health.
“I’ve long, long had an interest in environmental matters,” explained Mair from his home in Lions Bay.
In 1981 he left his work in the public sector and pursued a career in broadcasting, where he continued to take an interest in environmental issues.
He first became involved in the fight against independent power projects (IPPs) when the Pitt River (sourced in the Coast Mountains) project.
“I was fascinated by this issue when it came up,” said Mair, who has continually advocated for B.C.'s power being maintained as a Crown resource.
Mair said his three major contentions with the IPPs or run-of-river projects. The first is how the province is projecting a shortage of power.
“That simply is not so; the government is just not telling the truth,” he stated, adding that current electricity consumption can be maintained until 2020, and then tide-and wind-harnessing projects that are currently being implemented, will make up for the shortfall.
Mair’s other point is that there’s already a two-river system in place, utilizing hydroelectric dams put in place by Premier W.A.C. Bennett, creating a “marvellous power situation for us.”
Another contention with the projects is how grand they are in scale and how a project being touted as ‘green’ is anything but.
“These are anything but mom-and-pop operations,” said Mair, explaining that each one will incur roads in and out, huge river diversions, and destruction of pristine areas for transmission lines.
Consequences of the projects extend beyond the environment, according to Mair. Previously, BC Hydro profits went toward other public sectors like health, roads and education, but now profits will go as dividends to private shareholders. In a pendulum shift, it sends B.C.’s current integrated power situation into a NAFTA-type agreement, wherein the proportional theory will dictate how much all ratepayers are forking out.
“That will have a terrible effect,” forecasts Mair. “We’ll be paying the international price of electricity. We’ll be paying what California pays.”
Mair also sees the transfer of electricity across the border as a prelude to the export of our water.
Mair believes the only way to fight the projects is through voiced opposition and asking candidates, this fall, what their position is.
“The Environmental Assessment Act is nothing more than a fraud. They can’t stop any project,” declared Mair.
Mair will join MLA Norm Macdonald, Joe Foy, national campaign director of the Wilderness Committee and Wildsight’s Dave Quinn at the Invermere rally, taking place on June 11 from 6-9 p.m. at the Invermere Community Hall.
“This is really, really serious stuff,” concluded Mair. “Once you destroy these rivers, they’re gone for good.”
The evening will feature music by Siofri, food by Anne Riches, and fun activities for the kids.