BC Hydro has been quietly offering to transfer thousands of hectares of Crown land to First Nations in compensation for the $9-billion Site C dam.
The secrecy surrounding the proposed land transfers is raising questions about the transparency of the process, and one chief says he suspects BC Hydro is making the offers in the hope of dividing First Nations on the project. There are also concerns that the deals could cut off roads and trails, reducing public access to other Crown land in the Peace River region.
BC Hydro is declining to say how much land is being made available, but court and regional district records show that more than 5,000 hectares have been offered to four of the eight First Nations in the region. All eight bands have been made land offers, but details are not available.
MARK HUME –Â Globe and Mail –Â Feb. 18, 2016.
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