NDP step into it again by protesting green power

Environmentalists have said they want BC to pursue green power, Independent Power Producers (IPP) are making it clear that they are ready and able to produce green power, but still the NDP keeps fighting against new clean sources of electricity for the province.

And now it’s getting them into a dispute with First Nations too.

As the Campbell River Mirror reports, “North Island NDP MLA Claire Trevena was blasted by two First Nations chiefs…over comments she made in the Legislature against Plutonic Power's Bute Inlet power project.”

According to Hansard, Travena said:

“The promise of jobs is dangled along with the plans for development…These wilderness areas are their traditional territories, and these bands are poor. Their people need work, and they need the promise of a better future.”

Travena’s comments “infuriated Homalco First Nation Chief Richard Harry” and “angered Klahoose Chief Ken Brown,” who accuse her of insulting all First Nations by saying that they will take a few dollars and jobs in exchange for the destruction of their lands.

And IPP companies, at a luncheon sponsored by the Vancouver Board of Trade, said that the NDP is threatening investments. As reported in the Vancouver Sun article headlined “Power producers say criticisms costing B.C. billions of dollars – Firms complain NDP imperils investments,” Resja Campfens of Sea Breeze said:

"Almost every jurisdiction in the developed world has opened up their electricity grid to some form of competition, all for the benefit of the ratepayer. Yet, the [NDP] opposition has called for a moratorium on IPP projects in B.C. In the least, a moratorium would drive away clean energy investment to other jurisdictions."

The construction industry is excited about the possibilities of independent power production in BC, because not only is it a clean, green source of power, and not only is it the way of the future, but it holds the promise of emerging markets for construction contractors and for more jobs.

Let’s see, construction industry, in favour. First Nations, in favour. Environmentalists, in favour. Yet Carole James and the NDP continue to stick their feet firmly in their mouths and protest clean power at any cost.

Carole James and the NDP. Wrong party, wrong leader, wrong time.