Ottawa appears unlikely to stop Site C construction

OTTAWA, O.N. — According to social media posts from Prince George – Peace River – Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, the Liberal Government does not seem to be stepping in to put an end to Site C construction any time soon.

According to Zimmer’s tweets from the House of Commons, Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said the former Conservative government approved Site C, and there are ‘legally binding conditions’ that have to be complied with now.

1/Enviro Min " in the fall of 2014, the fmr govt approved the project & set legally binding conditions with which the proponent must comply"

— Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) February 23, 2016

2/ "The project is now at construction phase and B.C. Hydro must meet the requirements set out in the environmental assessment decision."

— Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) February 23, 2016

3/ It appears that the Libs are not going to stop Site C as mentioned in the HoC by @cathmckenna today.

— Bob Zimmer MP (@bobzimmermp) February 23, 2016

Since Trudeau’s election, First Nation groups have called for the Prime Minister to step in and stop Site C construction. While the government itself has been fairly quiet on the subject since the election, there has been speculation why that is. Keith Baldrey with Global BC wrote last month that, ‘there is no way a federal government will override a provincial government decision that is constitutionally protected.’

Yesterday in the House of Commons, Site C came up in the question period. Federal Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr said the Liberal government has undergone a series of consultations with First Nations across the country since their election.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen criticized Carr for his statement.

“Perhaps the minister’s problem is that he doesn’t realize that Site C isn’t in Manitoba, it’s in British Columbia,” he said. “Consultations have in inadequate, letters have been ignored. When is the Liberal government going to actually commit to its sacred policy to respect First Nations rights and titles?”

Carr fired back, saying it’s been more than a decade since Aboriginal communities have been properly consulted and the Liberal government is committed to thorough consultations with First Nations.