News Release - June 24, 2009

Hundreds of concerned citizens pack public meeting against private power project

KASLO - New Democrat MLA Michelle Mungall is urging the Campbell government put the brakes on the controversial Glacier-Howser private power project after more than a thousand people packed a public hearing in Kaslo on Tuesday night.

"It's clear that the people of the Kootenays have deep concerns about this massive project and they want to be heard," said Mungall, MLA for Nelson-Creston.  "This proposal will have profound environmental and economic impacts throughout the region."

The proposed private power project, located north of Kaslo, would divert water from four streams through 16 kilometres of tunnels large enough to drive a dump truck through.  Power lines to connect the controversial project to the grid are slated to cut through old growth forest, deep in habitat that is essential to threatened species like wolverines and grizzlies.

Tuesday's hearing was the first of three hearings that are part of the project's environmental assessment.  The other hearings are scheduled for tonight in Meadow Creek, and Thursday in Invermere.

New Democrat energy critic John Horgan said the overwhelming opposition to the Glacier-Howser proposal shows that Gordon Campbell's agenda to sell off rivers and watersheds to private power producers is out of step with what British Columbians want.

"It's time for Gordon Campbell to start listening to British Columbians," said Horgan.  "We need a moratorium on new private power projects until we have a plan in place that protects the environment and puts the public good above private profit."

Horgan called on the Campbell government to halt its most recent call for proposals on private power projects and instead conduct a thorough inventory of BC's energy needs.

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Media Contact: Jennifer Jones 250-889-6308