The Written Word: Rafe Mair February 5th
By Rafe Mair
Monday, February 05, 2007 03:46 AM
We are, it's said, heading into serious drought problems in BC which means a serious assault on our salmon stocks.
All runs will no doubt be history, but the end is in sight for the Sockeye who pass through the Nechako River, mid-province near Prince George, on their way to spawn in the Stuart system.
The Nechako was, of course, the cause of the environmental outcry against Kemano II or, as Alcan preferred, the Kemano Completion project.
One of the terms of settlement between the two senior governments and Alcan was that a coldwater release system would be put in place so that during droughts, or even just low water, cold water would be released to assist the spawning Sockeye. This has never been built, of course.
There has been considerable misunderstanding, especially on the North Coast as to just what Alcan is up to. Back in 1994, on my radio show, Ben Meisner, debated Kemano II with then Vice President of Alcan, Bill Rich. In a moment of angry frustration Rich snapped "Alcan is in the power business"! No one seemed to pick up on that for reasons I can't explain. It does tell us, however, about a lot of Alcan's plans and morality. I've lost count of the number of new foundries they've promised.
Here's the rub.
In 1949 when Alcan entered an agreement, ratified by legislation in 1950, Alcan was permitted to create electricity for the "works and vicinity". They are, and have been, in breach of that agreement and without the latest ruling by the BC Utilities Commission, they would have another little bonanza of an 800% profit on our water.
Why don't we hold Alcan to the original deal? It's a matter of "standing". The only person or entity who can complain about Alcan's conduct is the Province of British Columbia which has, in effect, been Alcan's partner flouting the agreement together!
I understand that there are efforts being made by others who seek "standing" and I offer no opinion as to their prospects of success. But please come away with these two truths: the BC government wants and will buy whatever power Alcan can provide and, second, Alcan has no intentions of building any more foundries in BC because, thanks to the Provincial government, aluminum is a sideline and power is their business.
Municipal Councils who, in the mid-nineties, were ready to lynch the likes of Meisner and me have had a belated wakening to the fact that they've been used by Alcan.
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Posted by: diplomat on February 5 2007 1:34 PM
You know, in this day and age, when there is so much retroactive compensation going on (the Japanese, the Chinese, the residential schools, Indian land claims,etc.) where we, the people of today, are being made to pay for the decisions our ancestors made, that some sort of retroactive order could be made against Alcan. Let's look at it, the deal our forefathers made with Alcan was o.k. at the time right? Well today, it is not o.k. it no longer results in something better for the citizens of this province, just more profits for Alcan. They are beginning the process of shirking the responsibilities they originally agreed to, and our government is letting it happen. Alcan is not even Canadian!
metalman.