VICTORIA - The 2016 British Columbia Budget contained little good news for British Columbians hoping for meaningful action on the environment and climate change.

“I was hoping for a budget that would really show climate and environmental leadership, instead we have a government trying to move ahead with highway expansion, LNG and the $8.8 billion Site C vanity project,” said Gwen Barlee, National Policy Director with the Wilderness Committee.

Some of the budget lowlights include:

• $3.4 billion in new public and private sector monies slated for highway expansion and transportation initiatives,
• BC Hydro’s debt ballooning to $19.5 billion in 2016/17 up from $10.8 billion in 2009/10 due to the projected construction of the highly contentious Site C mega-dam proposal, and
• The carbon tax mired at $30 a tonne.

“Budget 2016 grows greenhouse gas emissions and puts off to tomorrow what should be done today to tackle climate change,” said Barlee. “If the BC government was serious about climate change they would meaningfully invest in public transportation and increase the carbon tax.”

“Not tackling climate change is costly – just look at the hundreds of millions we spent on fighting forest fires last summer. This government needs to stop resting on its laurels and start being a leader on the climate change file,” Barlee added.

The budgeted $8.8 billion debt for Site C has been hotly contested in BC. Electricity consumption has flatlined in the province and the projected $100+ cost per megawatt hour of Site C power eclipses the projected $25 (USD) per MWh cost of electricity at the Mid-C market. The BC government has also been heavily criticized for exempting Site C from the oversight of the BC Utilities Commission and not looking at other viable energy alternatives.

“Site C is a very, very expensive vanity project. It is a slap in the face to First Nations, a disaster from an environmental perspective and an utter boondoggle financially. In addition to the $8.8 billion construction price tag, Site C is forecast to lose $800 million in its first four years of operation,” said Barlee. “Ratepayers can expect to see a massive increase in their electricity bills if this poorly thought-out multi-billion dollar project goes ahead.”

–30–

For more information, please contact:

Gwen Barlee | National Policy Director, Wilderness Committee
604-202-0322, gwen@wildernesscommittee.org

Photo: Construction on the controversial Site C dam in the Peace River Valley, BC. (Joe Foy)