Union urges B.C. NDP and Greens to allow construction of Site C

The Christian Labour Association Of Canada (CLAC) has released a statement urging the B.C. NDP and Green Parties to allow construction to continue as scheduled for the Site C Clean Energy Project.

The CLAC, a union which represents over 1,000 employees working on the Site C Project, is concerned about the economic impact that delays or a complete cancellation of the project could have on workers and their families.

“The economic impact of any delays or cancellation on each individual worker and their families is immense,” said Ryan Bruce, a spokesperson for the CLAC. “Through this project, we have been able to provide stable, long-term employment opportunities for over 1,000 experienced construction workers, while working with industry partners to facilitate innovative training-to-employment programs that have jump-started the careers of local youth.”

The statement was issued following the news that the NDP and Green Parties had signed a historic power-sharing agreement to govern B.C. under an NDP minority government.

As part of the 2017 Confidence and Supply Agreement, both parties agreed that the Site C Dam construction project should be referred to the BC Utilities Commission on the question of economic viability and consequences to British Columbians in the context of the current supply and demand conditions prevailing in the B.C. market.

The B.C. Liberal government chose not to put the dam to independent evaluation by the BCUC before moving forward with the project.

However, with an NDP minority government likely if Premier Christy Clark loses the confidence vote expected to occur in the Legislature later this month, the future of the Site C is unclear.

As a result, the CLAC recently submitted letters to both John Horgan and Andrew Weaver requesting meetings to discuss each leader's position regarding the future of the project and to speak on behalf of the Union’s membership on site.

The CLAC and its members contend that Site C is the product of 10 years of careful planning, and that any delays resulting from the proposed BCUC review are undue and unwarranted.

“As the representatives of the largest group of unionized workers on the project, we believe we are uniquely positioned to deliver a message of concern to Mr. Horgan and Mr. Weaver on behalf of the workers of Site C,” said Bruce.

The CLAC has also begun circulating a petition amongst the workers of Site C in support of continued construction, without undue delay or interruption, of the project.

Ultimately, if the NDP do manage to form a minority government with the backing of the Greens, it’s likely this dispute over the Site C Project could continue for sometime.