Premier David Eby wasted little time making a splash at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George.
During his keynote address last night (Tuesday) at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, Eby announced BC Hydro will embark on a $36 billion dollar investment for community and regional infrastructure projects delivering clean, affordable electricity to people and businesses in the future.
Among them is a plan to twin the 500,000-volt hydro transmission line from Prince George to Terrace, announced previously by BC Hydro president/CEO Chris O’Reilly. This includes an upgrade to install three capacitor stations to add 500 megawatts and boost capacity by 60 per cent is already underway.
“We must expand our electrical system like never before — to power industrial development, to power our homes and businesses, to power our future,” Premier David Eby said. “Clean, affordable energy will help us meet that opportunity while reducing pollution, securing good paying jobs and creating new opportunities for our growing economy.”
The crown corporation’s updated 10-Year Capital Plan, “Power Pathway: Building BC’s energy future” includes several investments across the province between 2024-25 and 2033-34, representing a 50% increase over their previous capital plan ($24 billion).
The new construction projects are projected to support 10,500 to 12,500 jobs on average annually, and will increase and maintain BC Hydro’s capital investments as major projects like Site C are completed.
The plan reflects growing demand for electricity across sectors due to population growth and housing construction, increased industrial development, and people and businesses switching from fossil fuels to clean electricity, among other factors.
It includes:
- building new high-voltage transmission lines and supporting infrastructure from Prince George to Terrace to meet industrial customer demand in the north coast area, including in the mining sector;
- building or expanding substations and installing new equipment to support residential housing growth and transit electrification in high-growth areas across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island; and
- upgrading B.C.’s dams and generating facilities to make them safer, more reliable and more efficient.
Electricity demand in the province is expected to increase by 15% or more between now and 2030.
In addition, Eby confirmed to MyPGNow.com prior to his address, an interim agreement has been reached with the Carrier Sekani First Nation along with the Ministry of Forest and BC Timber Sales – this includes 600,000 cubic metres of fibre in the Prince George Timber Supply.
“This will be a big relief to wood-based businesses, pulp mills and others in the area to make sure they have the trees they need. We have a new Minister of State that I introduced in Andrew Mercier – his job will be to ensure those trees make it to the businesses that depend on them in the Prince George area and more broadly.”
“It was a very significant announcement, but with most agreements, the details and making sure, which areas were protected, which are opened up for forestry took some time to get to.”
Earlier in the day, Roly Russell, the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development toured Moccasin Flats – Eby noted the main feedback from residents living at the site that they receive more involvement in discussions about housing and services that will eventually result in the encampment being closed.
“It’s a very reasonable request. Just like the cities and he felt (Russell) it was very positive. Encampments are one of the most challenging issues we face in the province because we want to balance the human rights with the people who live their and the realty that they can’t live in parks or on city or provincial land indefinitely because it’s not safe.”
“Building relationships with the government and the people living in encampments increase trust and make it easier to close these sites.” added Eby.
Eby is also in favour of Prince George City Council’s decision to approve a 44-unit transitional housing project to be operated by BC Housing on Third Avenue.
It will be for overnight sheltering with a capacity for two people per unit, with additional amenity/storage trailers with the use of temporary trailers.
BC Housing has also indicated the project would include drinking water and washroom facilities, and food services.
“This actually goes a little bit above and beyond what we agreed in the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). I think it is very much a signal of good faith from the city council on their willingness to work with the province on this and they are asking in exchange that we work with them on a design and implementation of particular services that might be available.”
“Minister Khalon will be working with the city on this project and others – there are five sites that have been identified so that we can close the encampments that are causing so much grief and misery especially on nights like tonight where it leads to potential danger for the people living there.”
Day 2 of the Natural Resources Forum kicks off this morning (Wednesday) with a combined announcement that includes Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston.
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon will also address the media.