Campbell Says Give Us A Partner, Province will Give Power to Highway 37

Friday, April 18, 2008 12:43 PM

SMITHERS,B.C. - Premier Gordon Campbell has told 400 people gathered at the 2008 Minerals North conference that the government is prepared to move ahead with the extension of power along highway 37 as long as they have a partner to help contribute to the cost.

"We are ready to commence the extension of power into the area that will work for everyone, We invite partners to come to the table to help share in the cost of the project."

Campbell said the province was prepared to spend 250 million dollars and Galore Creek mine was prepared to spend 158 million dollars to bring power into the area of north west BC , when that died no new partners came to the table.

"When we have partners come to the table we will be ready to go." said the Premier, "We are trying to create partnerships with industry to develop the region,and we will continue to do that."

The Premier will meet with Mayors from across the region in a closed meeting later today. Those Mayors are expected to call on the government to extend the power into the north and seek partnerships later.

Campbell also said he will continue to work to try and shorten the process of obtaining permits for mines to try and shorten the 7-10 year time it normally takes to get a mine up and running.

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Posted on Friday, April 18, 2008 12:43 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Green on April 18 2008 1:48 PM

And so it should be

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 18 2008 2:54 PM

A partner or partners would be great,but it should done regardless.
Build it and they will come...and they WILL come!
Then, government can charge them big bucks to hook up to the grid!
Nothing wrong with that!
Maybe they could even funnel some Olympic money out of the MILLIONS of tax dollars they are spending for a 10 day party at Whistler?
All Campbell is REALLY saying is that if nobody comes up with a large pile of dough,we ain't going to be doing jack squat for the north,in spite of the economic downturn.
Oh wow...that's a suprise!

Posted by: gamblor on April 18 2008 3:15 PM

nobody is going to build a multi bajillion dollar powerline for a bunch of goat herders. Until we muzzle the treehuggers and get some projects online, nothing will be done anywhere. The message is pretty clear - become a more business-friendly jurisdiction or no investment. And it makes damn good sense.

Posted by: Green on April 18 2008 3:54 PM

Why should we be giving all our resources away like we are some 3rd world country? If the companies involved are not willing to foot some of the bill why should we as taxpayers put all the money while they benefit. IF it was small business they the businesses would be paying the whole bill! If the government made it easier for smaller businesses to have access to the resources like the large companies - we probably wouldn't be in the situation we are going to be in - look at the forest industry where a few companies control most of the trees? Is that business friendly gamblor?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 18 2008 4:24 PM

It isn't actually about giving our resources away.
It is about creating an enviroment that will encourage new business,everything from mining to tourism and whatever else shows up in between.
If the infrastucture is in place,they will come,and for northern B.C.,that's what counts right now,and the sooner the better!
We need to be seen as business friendly here in northern B.C.but right now,we are not and we haven't always been in the past.
Build the power grid on Highway 37,settle the damn land claims that keep investment away, and for once,give the impression that we actually want to do business.
What happens in the next year or so will set the tone for future development,and that's as good a place to start as any.
We have blown a lot of good opportunities in B.C. because of a lack of foresight,mostly by our governments.
It is make or break this time around, and we are going to need all the help we can get!

Posted by: northern taxpayer on April 18 2008 8:59 PM

well i guess when you have a government monoply on hydro power it gives the primier a power trip to yank the chain of nova gold and teck cominco,the north is for looting and plundering now we can see the raping of the rapers.If the controllers from southern B.C. were capable managers they would get a commitment from the other big mine players for 3 cents a kwh build the line which costs less than half of the vancouver convention center and the nova-teck outfit could come on board later at say 12.5 cents a kwh no subsidy for breaking the deal and those mines that are ready won't suffer, that should raise some hackles in nova teck ? more than one way to flush out the corporate welfare bums in this deal. jd

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 19 2008 7:46 AM

When you have a provincial government with it's finger in so many pies,indirectly you become a hostage.
It's all about control, and the Liberals do like control.
(nobody was worse for that than the NDP under Dave Barrett at one time)
So what you end up with is...vote for us, or you will wish you had...and that's exactly what the Campbell government is doing,particularly here in the north.