Judge reportedly ill in Site C injunction case, no court proceedings today

VANCOUVER, B.C. — BC Hydro was expected to continue making their case for an injunction against Site C protesters at the Rocky Mountain Fort Camp today in B.C. Supreme Court, but the judge in the case is reportedly ill.

One of the defendants, Arlene Boon, took to Facebook to issue an update about the case as it wrapped up yesterday, stating that the case was to resume tomorrow at 10 a.m., if the judge was well. BC Hydro’s lawyer, Mark Andrews, was expected to keep presenting today until 3 p.m., with the defendants scheduled to make their case tomorrow.

However, as the judge was not able to listen to the case today, the schedule has been pushed back.

https://twitter.com/lailayuile/status/702196145783570432

There’s no word on how long it will take for the case to wrap up at this point.

The protesters made their first appearance yesterday. Andrews argued against the defendants and said demonstrators are blocking an area where a contractor was to deposit waste rock. This would require hydro to transport the rock elsewhere, then move it back later at a cost of about $8 million.

If the alternative site doesn’t work for waste rock, Andrews added, 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 told reporters outside of B.C. Supreme Court the $8.8-billion hydroelectric dam is in conflict with climate change targets agreed to by Canada at the Paris climate conference last year.

Suzuki and President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Philip have voiced their support for the protesters.

The application for an injunction was filed by BC Hydro just over a month ago. Hydro alleges protesters prevented the corporation from completed required clearing work deliberately, which the defendants deny.

Legal counsel for the defendants formally responded to the case last Monday.