by Arne Hansen

Delegates attending the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Victoria voted almost unanimously October 25, to demand that the BC Liberal government repeal legislation that undermines local government authority over independent power projects.
In May 2006, the provincial government passed legislation that removed local control over zoning decisions in relation to independent power projects, despite earlier promises to respect municipal decision-making authority.
Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed lead the municipal opposition to Section 53 of Bill 30. At the convention, NDP municipal affairs critic Charlie Wyse called on the Liberals to listen to communities and respect the resounding support for the UBCM resolution. Speakers in support of the resolution included representatives from Squamish, Whistler, Maple Ridge, Comox and Christina Lake.
 Local governments want the BC Liberals to stick to their promises and respect municipal authority. Bill 30 was an arrogant attack on local decision-making and the offending section should be repealed. Independent power projects have significant implications for the environment and communities. Local governments should be given back the opportunity to plan for their communities and to make decisions that are in their best interests. Bill 30 takes that right away.
Meanwhile in the BC Supreme Court, Kitimat is seeking to overturn a set of ministerial orders from 1997 and 2002 that allow Alcan to sell electricity generated by the Nechako and Kemano river systems, at the expense of aluminum production. Kitimat Mayor Richard Wozney says that there is no longer any reason for Alcan to stay in Kitimat if it can close down its old smelter instead of replacing it and “fire everyone and sell the electricity generated by our river for half a billion dollars of profit each year.”
Should Alcan be allowed to export power in an unrestricted manner using the Powerex distribution system, the US government enforcing NAFTA rules on BC Hydro won’t be far behind. If that happens, we will shortly be paying the same electrical power rates as Los Angeles, which will initially be at least four to five times what we pay now. (www.hydrofactsbc.ca) (www.ashlu.info)

Arne Hansen is a Vancouver writer and documentary film producer.