the broken typewriter

We’re into the Top 5 now, and these articles gained quite a few more views than those in the bottom half of the countdown.

In fifth place we see a long-awaited, controversial government project near completion, while in fourth place Councillor Trevor Bolin captures the headline.

#5 – Site C reservoir filling begins

The project that has been fraught with controversy since the early 1980s, has reached another step that will change the landscape of Peace River valley forever, as BC Hydro began filling the reservoir on August 25.

The project was first proposed in the 1950s, as part of a series of hydro-electric dams beginning with Site A, the WAC Bennett Dam, which was completed in 1967. Site B, the Peace Canyon Dam, was built in 1980.

Back in 1982, during the first round of British Columbia Utilities Commission hearings, the Fort St. John Development Commission and the Chamber of Commerce urged the public to stop the hearings and embrace the project so that people in the region could get back to work. Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister, and the things were tough all over. The Site C project was seen as way to bring prosperity back to the region, as well as creating bonuses such as a new “free water source”, free fishing, an assured electrical supply, flood control and 100,000 acres of new farmland.

The proponents of the project said it wouldn’t be destructive or harmful. But many, including farmers and Treaty 8 First Nations, disagreed. Loss of prime agricultural land, destruction traditional Treaty 8 lands and sacred sites, and wildlife habitat were all cause for concern.

This difference of opinion resulted in protests, BCUC hearings, court cases and flip-flopping on the part of governments for the next three decades.

When the provincial government decided not to go ahead with Site C in 1982, and following more BCUC hearings, rejected the proposal again in 1989, stating that it didn’t need the electricity, it seemed the project may have gone the way of Site E at the BC-Alberta border.

Enter Premier Gordon Campbell, who in 2010, resurrected the project and fanned the flames of resistance in the Peace. Treaty 8 First Nations were the first to express their ire, by boycotting the official announcement of the project at the WAC Bennett Dam in April 2010.

Follow this link to continue reading #5

#4 – Blame for public camping issue belongs to the Province

A new sign has appeared on the lawn of the Provincial Court Building on 100 St in Fort St. John. The sign attempts to prohibit camping on the property, a sign that is nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of a Provincial government that constantly downloads responsibilities onto municipalities while simultaneously tying their hands.

Despite the signage, a tent popped up Saturday afternoon on the lawn next to the “No Camping” sign.

From the comfort of his camping chair, next to the tent he set up on the lawn of the court building, Fort St. John city councillor Trevor Bolin spoke about the need for his dramatic gesture.

“People are blaming municipalities, people are angry, and people are upset, and I get it. I don’t blame them. But we need to know where the blame belongs,” Bolin said.

“The blame belongs on the fact that the Province will not allow municipalities to deal with the issues that they’re facing. Yet they’ll post their own signs that say, “no camping” because they don’t want to have any involvement in it.”

The sign has no teeth because the Province has left cities like Fort St. John without the tools, the bylaws, for enforcement, when it amended the Community Charter in November 2023.

The amendment, Section 274.1 of Bill 45 Miscellaneous Statues, prohibits municipalities from enacting bylaws “against a person sheltering at an encampment while homeless, [unless] alternative shelter is reasonably available to the person and meets the basic needs of the person for shelter”.

Coincidentally, this amendment was made after Bolin, in July 2023 brought forward a Notice of Motion for council to look at options to manage soft-sided temporary shelters in the city. Shortly after the meeting made the news, the Human Rights Commission was up in arms over Bolin’s proposal.

“Human Rights Commissioner came after the City of Fort St. John,” said Bolin. “We were basically told to cease and desist on that by-law.

Follow this link to continue reading #4

Just two more days until The Broken Typewriter reveals the top story of 2024 as determined by the number of times it was read. It’s on a hot-button issue, one that has created many heated debates on the What’s Up FSJ page on Facebook. But that’s all the hints I’m going to give you!!