Power to the people!

As a result of over 1200 people expressing their vehement opposition to the BC Government’s plan to build power lines through the Pinecone Burke provincial park and convert all eight tributaries of the Upper Pitt River to private power production, environment Minister, Barry Penner announced yesterday that he would not allow a power line to be built through the park.

The high school in Pitt Meadows Tuesday night was the site of the public hearing where speaker after speaker denounced the proposal by Northwest Cascade Power Ltd. (a subsidiary of Run of River Power Inc.) and the provincial government. Environment minister Barry Penner was notably absent, as mentioned by Raif Mair who is featured in Damien Gillis’ documentation of the meeting.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yT9_E2FFdnw

First Nations speakers were also especially eloquent and touching in their call for the government to protect the animals and natural environment of the region with many other speakers following suit, calling on Campbell and his Liberal government to start listening to the people and quit the sham of democracy that they are shoving down our throats.

Hearty thanks to Damien Gillis and all the folks at Western Canada Wilderness Committee and Save our Rivers for their work in bringing this issue to the top of the public agenda and keeping it there.