A nice wednesday bit of NDP inconsistency

The NDP’s energy critic, John Horgan was on CKNW last Friday trying to dig his way out of a hole. Guest host Michael Smyth asked why the NDP(click the link to listen), who have come out strongly opposed to independent power production (IPP), support an IPP in Lytton.

Horgan touts the old party line that the NDP would put a moratorium on IPPs (despite environmentalists like Tzeporah Berman being in favour of them). But maybe not the ones already approved. Huh?

Smyth calls him out, saying “But, look, I thought you said the other day that you like this Lytton project because they need the power there, they’ve been having brownouts there and that it’s a good project in that respect. Now you’re telling me you wouldn’t approve it.”

And Horgan has the audacity to claim he’s being consistent.

Horgan: I'm not changing my position, Mike, but this is a much larger debate than a small micro-hydro project that will service a community that's underserviced today…the fact that the First Nations in Lytton have a power purchase agreement from B.C. Hydro, a contract to provide electricity to the community, means that that debate is over. The debate that we should be having….

Smyth: Yeah, but if you guys were in power, you wouldn't approve it.

Horgan: I'm not in power, Mike. You might have noticed that.

Thank heavens for that!

Perhaps our favourite line, though, goes to Smyth: “I think you’re making up your policy on the fly here.”

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

NDP versus clean energy advocates....again

The Prince George Citizen reported on another incident of the NDP getting knocked back for their stance against independent power production (IPP). The NDP’s view on this is mind boggling, given that major environmentalists continue to say IPPs are a great way to produce clean energy.

In a speech to the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Harvie Campbell of Pristine Power is reported to have taken “a swipe at the B.C. New Democrats…for vowing to impose a moratorium on the projects if elected.”

Harvie said that "We can choose a clean energy future that will grow our economy, create new jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions or we can turn back the clock and choose a course that would increasingly rely on imported, dirty electricity, while we export jobs and opportunity to our neighbours."

The NDP keep pissing off environmentalists. First they don’t want to tax carbon, then they want to stop green power production. They are losing any support they might have had from green-minded people. I guess that just leaves the unionists to support them. And we know how well that went last time!

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

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.

NDP have magic wand to make clean power appear!

A recent ad in the BC NDP’s magazine, The Democrat, calls for a rally to stop independent power projects (see page 8). But prominent environmentalists have said IPPs should continue. Tzeporah Berman who heads PowerUp Canada told Bill Good on CKNW on January 22, 2009.

“I think we need to see a lot more support for green power in this province than we’ve been seeing in the public…the opposition that we’re seeing in British Columbia…to the move towards green power…needs to be rethought.”

“What I’m saying is we need to support the move to green power. We need to reduce carbon emissions, as a priority. And yes, we need to do it smart; we need to be careful about our rivers. But the fact is we need to support the move to green power.”

In seven of the past ten years, BC has been a net importer of dirty electricity from the U.S. and Alberta. Carole James’ NDP say they are for clean power, but have opposed every clean energy project in the province. They’re against all Independent Power Producers, even calling for a moratorium on every proposed project.

The NDP oppose the 45 operating independent power production projects that are providing badly needed construction and operating jobs in rural and First Nations communities. In March 2008, they called for a moratorium on future developments of power projects.

Environmentalists say we need green power. Independent Power Producers are creating green power for our province, and creating jobs in needed areas. Do we really want Carole James and the BC NDP deciding energy policy for our province?

Wrong party. Wrong leader. Wrong time.
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