News Release - October 01, 2007

VICTORIA - The B.C. Utilities Commission's decision to hold oral hearings into a Campbell government electricity deal could help save millions of dollars, Opposition Energy Critic John Horgan and Rural Issues Critic Robin Austin said today.

On Friday, the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) announced that they would be holding public oral hearings into the 2007 Electricity Purchase Agreement between B.C. Hydro and Alcan.

"The decision to hold oral hearings is a victory for all British Columbians," said Horgan, the MLA for Malahat - Juan de Fuca.

"Last year, Gordon Campbell tried to push through a shoddy deal with Alcan that would have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. It was only because of the hard work of people who presented at those oral hearings that we were able to put a stop to that deal."

Following public hearings last year, the BCUC ruled that the Campbell government's 2006 Electricity Purchase Agreement with Alcan was "not in the public interest".

Last week, the Official Opposition made a presentation to the BCUC calling for full public oral hearings into the 2007 Electricity Purchase Agreement.

"Some people want to shut the public out. Luckily, our arguments to the BCUC for openness and accountability won out, and the public's interest will be protected," said Austin, the MLA for Skeena.

"Interveners deserve the right to speak to these issues and they deserve to be heard. How we purchase our electricity is far too important an issue to be left to written submissions alone."

Austin noted that it is important that long term employment for the communities of Kitimat and Terrace be considering during the public hearings.

The BCUC will hold a Procedural Conference into the 2007 EPA on October 5, and a full Public Hearing will commence on November 19. Both hearings will take place in Vancouver.

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