Tuesday, February 3, 2026
ADVT 
National

A Chronology Of Events In The Site C Dam Project In British Columbia

The Canadian Press, 12 Dec, 2017 02:10 PM
    VICTORIA — A chronology of events in British Columbia's Site C hydroelectric dam project:
     
    Late 1950s: The location for a third dam on the Peace River is first looked at after the locations of WAC Bennett Dam and Peace Canyon Dam were identified.
     
    1970s: Engineering work is done to determine the feasibility of a third dam.
     
    1989: Plans for Site C are shelved because of local opposition to the project. 
     
    March 2001: The chairman of BC Hydro says he would like to see the project revived and get fast-track approval from the government.
     
    April 2004: BC Hydro includes Site C in a package of initiatives it is studying to boost the province's long-term supply of hydroelectricity.
     
    December 2007: Preliminary cost estimates for Site C show the project could cost between $5 billion and $6.6 billion, doubling previous estimates by the province.
     
    April 2010: The B.C. government announces plan to build Site C.
     
    December 2013: Public hearings begin on the project.
     
    May 2014: A joint review panel gives no clear yes or no answer but says B.C. will need new energy at some point. It says the project would cause significant adverse effects on the environment and wildlife, as well as Aboriginal communities and farmers in the area.
     
    October 2014: Provincial and federal environmental certificates are issued. 
     
    December 2014: The B.C. government makes the decision to go ahead with construction.
     
    July 2015: Construction begins on Site C.
     
    July 2015: The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed a petition by the Peace Valley Landowner Association challenging provincial environmental approval of Site C. An appeal was dismissed in September 2016.
     
    August 2015: The federal court dismissed an application by Prophet River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations challenging environmental approval of Site C by the federal government. An appeal was dismissed in January 2017. 
     
    February 2016: A judge orders protesters to leave their tent camp near the construction site after BC Hydro seeks an injunction.
     
    December 2016: The government says the project is on schedule and on budget.
     
    March 2017: The government says more than 2,000 workers are employed at Site C.
     
    Aug. 2, 2017: The province's newly sworn-in NDP government asks the B.C. Utilities Commission to review the project as it considers cancelling or delaying its construction.
     
    Aug. 28, 2017: A United Nations panel says construction of the dam should be stopped until there is a full review of how it would affect Indigenous land.
     
    Nov. 1, 2017: The B.C. Utilities Commission says the project is over budget and behind schedule in its report to the government, which promises a decision on Site C's future by the end of the year.
     
    Dec. 11, 2017: Premier John Horgan says the dam will be completed but the price tag is expected to rise from $8.3 billion to $10.7 billion.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Man Charged After Holding Truck Driver At Gunpoint For Several Hours In B.C. Interior

    Man Charged After Holding Truck Driver At Gunpoint For Several Hours In B.C. Interior
    The 43-year-old Alberta trucker spent three-hours driving along a B.C. highway Monday after an assailant came to his window, waving a handgun, demanding that Price drive him away from the turnout in the road where Price had been taking a break.

    Man Charged After Holding Truck Driver At Gunpoint For Several Hours In B.C. Interior

    Charges Laid, Motive Still Unclear In Vancouver Double Homicide: Police Chief

    Charges Laid, Motive Still Unclear In Vancouver Double Homicide: Police Chief
    Chief Const. Adam Palmer said 25-year-old Rocky Kam remains in custody after being charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Dianna Mah-Jones and Richard Jones on Sept. 27.

    Charges Laid, Motive Still Unclear In Vancouver Double Homicide: Police Chief

    Police Say B.C. Farm Search Continues Despite Removal Of Shelters, Equipment

    Police Say B.C. Farm Search Continues Despite Removal Of Shelters, Equipment
    SALMON ARM , B.C. — Temporary shelters and heavy equipment have been removed from a British Columbia farm where the remains of an 18-year-old woman were found.

    Police Say B.C. Farm Search Continues Despite Removal Of Shelters, Equipment

    Small Knives Will Be Allowed On Planes, But Baby Powder Banned: Transport Canada

    Small Knives Will Be Allowed On Planes, But Baby Powder Banned: Transport Canada
     Under new regulation changes effective later this month, airline passengers will be able to carry some small knives on most flights, but baby powder will be banned.

    Small Knives Will Be Allowed On Planes, But Baby Powder Banned: Transport Canada

    'Be Vigilant': More Reports Of Halloween Candy Tampering Emerge In Nova Scotia

    'Be Vigilant': More Reports Of Halloween Candy Tampering Emerge In Nova Scotia
    HALIFAX — Police in Halifax are investigating two separate cases of straight pins being found in Halloween chocolate bars, adding to a number of candy-tampering incidents across the region.

    'Be Vigilant': More Reports Of Halloween Candy Tampering Emerge In Nova Scotia

    Saskatchewan Premier Says Governor General Shouldn't Mock People Of Faith

    Saskatchewan Premier Says Governor General Shouldn't Mock People Of Faith
    REGINA — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says Gov. Gen. Julie Payette should avoid denigrating faiths that believe in a creator.

    Saskatchewan Premier Says Governor General Shouldn't Mock People Of Faith