THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 VOL. 74, NO. 36
SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
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alaskahighwaynews.ca
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Scrapping Site C a $3-billion hit to ratepayers MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca
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Scrapping Site C would lead to a $3-billion hit to ratepayers’ wallets, according to BC Hydro. In its 866-page filing to the BC Utilities Commission last week, the Crown utility outlined how much it would cost to terminate and remediate construction, now two years in on the Peace River just outside Fort St. John. “The best option for ratepayers is to complete Site C by 2024 as currently planned,” BC Hydro writes. “BC Hydro expects to complete Site C on time and on budget, and we have the appropriate level of schedule and cost contingency.” As of June 30, $1.8 billion had been spent on the dam, with expenditures due to reach $2.1 billion by the end of the year. Much of that has been spent on field and technical studies, land acquisitions, permit approvals, and entering into major construction contracts, Hydro says. BC Hydro says it has entered into $4 billion in contracts.
However, none of the contracts require termination payments or penalties, it says. “BC Hydro would still be accountable for costs associated with payments for contractor work to date and demobilization costs,” Hydro writes. Hydro estimates the cost of terminating work and remediating the dam site at $1 billion. “This value represents BC Hydro’s best estimate based on the available information in the time permitted, and is subject to material uncertainty,” it writes. “The scope of remediation would be determined in consultation with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders.” Coupled with its sunk costs, BC Hydro says a cancellation by the end of December would force a $3 billion write-off that it would look to collect from ratepayers in both short and long-term rate hikes—pending government or commission approval. See SITE C on A15
Public meetings Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 The BC Utilities Commission will hold three meetings in the North Peace this fall for residents to give their input on its review of the Site C dam. The commission will hold 11 community input sessions across the province starting Sept. 23 in Vancouver. The commission will be in the North Peace starting Sept. 30 in Hudson’s Hope at the Pearkes Centre. There will be two sessions in Fort St. John Oct. 1 and 2 at the Pomeroy Hotel. The sessions take place from 6 to 10 p.m. The commission will also be making stops in Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson, Prince George, Victoria, and Nanaimo. The commission is being tasked to study the economic viability of continuing construction on the $8.8-billion project based on current electricity supply and demand and its cost to ratepayers. A final report is due Nov. 1, with the new NDP cabinet expected to make a decision by the end of the fall legislative session on Nov. 30.
Greyhound cuts leave riders in the lurch ALEISHA HENDRY ahendry@ahnfsj.ca
Greyhound’s plans to cut service in Northeast B.C. is quickly proving to have impacts on travellers both local and abroad. Last week, the bus company applied to the BC Passenger Transportation Board for permission to cut four of its northern routes, including from Prince George to Dawson Creek, and from Dawson Creek and Whitehorse. It also wants to cut routes between Prince George and Valemount and Prince Rupert.
ALEISHA HENDRY PHOTO
Gary and Marena McFarlane.
“The reality is that we can no longer operate the unsustainable routes, and we are proposing changes that will make other BC routes more viable,” said Stuart Kendrick, vice president of Greyhound Canada in
a release. Ridership on northern routes has dropped 51 per cent since 2010, the company says. In 2016, the Fort St. John depot saw 3,807 departures and 3,699 arrivals, down from 4,685 departures and 4,275 arrivals in 2015. So far in 2017, the depot has seen 3,181 departures and 3,365 arrivals. At the time of writing, the transportation board hadn’t received nor published an application from Greyhound. Still, Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman has been in contact with the board. See GREYHOUND on A16
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Fort St. John residents head to the polls this weekend for the city’s first byelection since 2006. Seven candidates are looking to replace Dan Davies on city council, including Becky Grimsrud, Lilia Hansen, Cindy Dettling, Christopher Flury, Edwina Nearhood, Randy Vincent, and Barry Wilkinson. To learn more about the candidates, and where and how to vote, turn to pages A4 and A5.
MLAs return to legislature Friday Peace River North MLA Dan Davies says he’ll be looking for a responsible and balanced spending plan, along with needed investments in northeast education and transportation when the NDP outlines its priorities as a new government this week. A new three-month legislative session begins Sept. 8 with a throne speech, with a budget update to follow on Sept. 11. “It’s a different world,” said Davies, whose BC Liberals find themselves in opposition after 16 years in power. He expects the NDP to introduce a slightly modified budget introduced by the Liberals in spring before being ousted in a confidence vote by the NDP and Greens. Much of the changes will reflect recent announcements to eliminate bridge tolls in Vancouver and adult education tuition fees, rental rebates, and more, he said. The new minority government will need to signal to investors that B.C. remains open for business and resource development while increasing spending, he added. “How are they going to pay for everything without having to raise taxes, without having to borrow huge amounts?” Davies said. “Of course, the economy is not a budget line item but it’s the other half of the budget. It’s that balance. How are they going to do it?” Davies, the Liberals’ education critic, hopes to see money in the budget for teacher training and to help districts across the province meet their hiring needs. He’s hoping to see investments to increase seats in programs like the Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education at Northern Lights College, and others across B.C., as part of that. See MLAS on A3
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