Protesters could cost Hydro millions of dollars: B.C. Hydro’s lawyer

VANCOUVER, B.C. — BC Hydro’s lawyer said earlier today if protesters stay at the Rocky Mountain Fort Camp and continue blocking construction of the Site C dam project, they could cost the utility millions of dollars.

According to the Canadian Press, counsel for BC Hydro, Mark Andrews, said demonstrators are blocking an area where a contractor was to deposit waste rock. He said to transport it somewhere else, and move it back later, would cost about $8 million.

If the alternative site doesn’t work for waste rock, Andrews continued, there’s a small risk that the protesters will force a year-long delay to the project at a cost of $420 million.

Environmentalist David Suzuki voiced support for the protesters outside court and says the $8.8-billion project is in conflict with climate change targets agreed to by Canada at the Paris climate conference last year.

Hydro is in B.C. Supreme Court today, seeking an injunction to remove protesters from the Rocky Mountain Fort Camp.