Let’s Talk Site C - Mayor Encourages Attendance at
Presentation to Site C Joint Panel Public Hearings
January 16, 2014
“We have committed to work fervently to ensure, if Site C is
approved, the City of Fort St. John’s interests will be protected and
promoted and our City is better off in the long-term as a result of the
project,” says Mayor Ackerman.
On Saturday January 18th at 1:30 pm the Mayor will personally be
speaking to the Joint Review Panel on the need to continue to
maintain and build a high quality of life for residents in Fort St John
and ensure the commitments requested in its Position Paper,
delivered to BC Hydro last December, are included in the project.
The public is encouraged to attend the presentation.
“We have a mandate from the community. We heard the community
during our Let’s Talk Site C consultations and protecting the
community is of paramount importance to the residents,” states
Mayor Ackerman. “During our consultation process the community
said that there are aspects of the project that will impact us as
residents; we recognize the importance of this project to BC but it
should not be built on the backs of the local taxpayers."
During the Let’s Talk Site C process the community brought forward
concerns regarding impacts to health services, para-medical services,
social services, safety (including policing), quality of life, optimizing
economic opportunities, housing, transportation, city boundaries and
energy stewardship. Council also heard loud and clear through
community discussions that the consultations that BC Hydro has
hosted had not permeated the community and that even residents
that had participated in discussions felt that they were not heard.
Those in support of the project also expressed concerns that
consultations with BC Hydro regarding the project had not been
sufficient.
Let’s Talk Site C was an initiative of City Council. They felt it very
important the community be consulted and involved prior to
finalization of the interests. Working with Urban Systems, an award
winning stakeholder engagement strategy was developed. This
strategy recognized and considered the interests of various
stakeholders/audiences and their past involvement/reaction to the
proposed Site C project and other related initiatives.
The City is presenting on a number of topics. Staff and technical
experts will deliver additional evidence on many of the 11
commitments requested of BC Hydro in the City’s Position Paper. The
schedule for these presentations is as follows:
Saturday, January 18, 2014 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Opening Presentation
Mayor Lori Ackerman, Councillor Trevor Bolin and Councillor Byron
Stewart, City of Fort St. John
Economic Development Presentation
Mayor Lori Ackerman, City of Fort St. John
85th Avenue Lands Presentation
Ken Rogers, City of Fort St. John
Monday, January 20, 2014 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Population Presentation
John Dumbrell, City of Fort St. John
Financial Impacts Presentation
Dianne Hunter and Gerhard Tonn, City of Fort St. John
Housing Presentation
Councillor Trevor Bolin, City of Fort St. John
Transportation Presentation
James Donnelly, City of Fort St. John
RCMP Presentation
Dianne Hunter, City of Fort St. John
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 9:00 am to noon
Water System Presentation