News release: GVBOT applauds B.C. government for affirming Site C

Board of Trade endorses continuation of construction of the Site C dam

For Immediate Release
Dec. 11, 2017

VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade applauds the B.C. government for its decision to proceed with construction of the Site C dam.

For the past several years, the Board of Trade has advocated in favour of the Site C hydroelectric dam, given that it will provide 100 years of reliable, clean energy for British Columbia at a time when our province is rapidly growing and evolving.

“Affirming the construction of Site C is the right decision for the future of our province,” said Iain Black, President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. “Assuring a domestic source of clean, reliable hydroelectric power helps secure our energy system for the growth of businesses and sectors of the Lower Mainland and provincial economy for decades into the future.”

It is also the Board of Trade’s view that — on balance — proceeding with Site C is the responsible fiscal decision for the taxpayers of British Columbia. Black noted that construction of the project is already well underway, providing a much-needed economic boost for communities in Northern B.C. However, the benefits of the completed dam will also extend across the province, including here in the Greater Vancouver region, where another one million new people are expected to move in the next 20 years.

“For decades, our province has benefited from reliable hydroelectric power. In fact, many resource industries in British Columbia today are built on this competitive advantage, and many new industries, such as the burgeoning tech sector, stand to benefit moving forward,” said Black.

“As our economy continues to grow and change, building reliable, new energy infrastructure is critical to provide the certainty that our industries and businesses need to invest and expand.”

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Media contact:

Greg Hoekstra
Communications Manager
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
604-640-5450 | media@boardoftrade.com