A second NDP MLA has broken with his party and is endorsing local independent power producers (IPPs) at the same time NDP leader Carole James is touring renewable energy projects she wants to close down, says Environment Minister Barry Penner.
April 22, 2009 A second NDP MLA has broken with his party and is endorsing local independent power producers (IPPs) at the same time NDP leader Carole James is touring renewable energy projects she wants to close down, says Environment Minister Barry Penner.
“The NDP have been loudly proclaiming they want to cancel IPPs, and the jobs and green energy that come with them,” says Penner. “But another one of Carole James’ critics is talking out of the other side of his mouth, saying he applauds a run-of-river project in his riding. It’s becoming increasingly clear that many NDP members have been saying one thing in Victoria and another thing to their local voters. The doublespeak and duplicity has to stop - on the one hand the NDP says they want a province-wide ban on these projects, but then their candidates and critics turn around and say something completely different at home. It is an acknowledgement that contrary to what Carole James claims, these projects are good for the economy and the environment. The NDP position is pure hypocrisy and dishonesty.”
Penner is referring to an article in the Alberni Valley Times, dated April 8, 2009, in which Alberni-Pacific Rim candidate Scott Fraser expresses support for a new 5.5 megawatt project operated by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. The paper notes that Fraser has spoken against IPPs but says the band’s Canoe Creek project looks like a solid plan.
“There may be a benefit to this plan and I applaud (the Tla-o-qui-aht) for taking charge of this project,” Fraser said. “It could give them the lead as true stewards of the land and it sounds very innovative.”
Earlier today, it was revealed the Columbia River-Revelstoke NDP candidate Norm Macdonald wrote a letter, on his MLA letterhead, expressing support for proposals by Remote Structure Inc. for their run-of-river hydro projects in his constituency.
Across the province, independent power projects have already been credited with providing over 1,100 jobs in rural communities and $2.4 billion in investment, with billions more in investment and thousands more jobs to come. In the 1990s, the NDP actively promoted run-of-river projects and reduced water rental rates to encourage more IPP development. By the time they left office in 2001, 17 run-of-river projects were in operation in B.C. But the current NDP leadership has adopted a much more hostile view towards private sector investment in renewable energy and wants to ban such projects.
Last month, NDP Energy Critic John Horgan admitted his leader would have rejected a $150-million project that the BC Liberal government has approved in the Fraser Canyon, despite acknowledging it is "absolutely" a good project that will create 120 jobs in partnership with local First Nations.
Learn more at:•
http://www.bcliberals.com/NDPonIPPs•
http://www.bcliberals.com/BCLTV-StopTheSmearsFind the link to the original Alberni Valley Times article here
