Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

February 4th, 2009

Environment Minister visits Revelstoke but refuses repeated requests for a
public meeting on river-diversion projects

Environment Minister Barry Penner’s visit to Revelstoke over the weekend left many concerned Revelstoke residents feeling ignored.  Despite numerous requests from local groups like the North Columbia Environmental Society, Minister Penner refused the opportunity to hold a public meeting to discuss the BC Liberal Energy Plan and the environmental implications of the many river-diversion projects that are planned for Revelstoke’s creeks and rivers.

“There are clearly a number of outstanding concerns that the people of Revelstoke have about this government’s plans to divert local rivers to produce electricity,” said Norm Macdonald, MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke.  “It is completely reasonable for the people in this area to expect that the Minister responsible for protecting their environment would be willing to discuss these projects in an open and public way.”

Concerns raised by citizens include the removal of local decision-making on whether or not these projects should be placed on local rivers, the shortcomings of the current environmental assessment process and the lack of an overall environmental plan that takes into account the cumulative impact of multiple river-diversion projects.

“Minister Penner has been quite willing to write long letters to the Editor supporting an energy policy that few outside of government think is a good idea, but when the opportunity came for him to meet with the people of Revelstoke, not only did he avoid a public meeting on the issue, he did not even let residents know that he was going to be in town.”

The development of river-diverting private power projects continues to be a huge issue for people across British Columbia as more information becomes available.  For instance, recent statements by Don McInnes, Independent Power Producers of BC (IPPBC) spokesperson and Plutonic Power CEO, have indicated that it is the intent of private power producers to sell their electricity into the US market.

“We are giving away our rivers so that private power producers can make money selling energy into the American market.  Why would we do that?  That’s a question that a lot of people are asking, and the government has a responsibility to come to Revelstoke and publicly answer that question.

“Minister Penner was able to find time during his visit to be photographed with prominent Liberals in front of an existing power project near Revelstoke but no time to meet his obligation to explain his government’s plans for Revelstoke’s rivers.  That’s just not good enough.”