If public land is committed to a decades-long industrial utility project, British Columbians — including ranchers and tenure holders — deserve transparency, enforceable protections, fair local treatment, and hard financial security.
This is not only a question of where the project goes. It is also a question of who benefits, who bears the burden, and what protections exist if things go wrong. If Crown land is used for a privately owned utility asset, the public deserves to know what it receives in return.
Key questions that should be answered before any approval moves forward.
The proposed project sits on Crown land — land held in trust for all British Columbians. It is not private industrial land awaiting development.
Project materials describe a private partnership ownership structure. The asset would be privately held, even though it occupies public land.
The electricity would be sold into the BC Hydro system. British Columbians could end up paying for power from an asset they do not own, built on land they do.
The burden of proof should be on the proponent to show clear, measurable public benefit — not on the public to prove harm.
These are the principles that should guide any decision about industrial use of Crown land — not just for this project, but as a baseline for public accountability.
Full public disclosure of tenure and land-use terms
Clear demonstration of net public benefit
Strong local compensation and community benefit commitments
Direct compensation and protection for residents facing concentrated project burdens
No loss of access, grazing, or watershed protection without enforceable offsets
Full reclamation bond posted up front before construction
Clear assignment of long-term liability and cleanup responsibility
No large industrial project on Crown land should proceed without real financial security posted in advance to cover decommissioning, cleanup, disposal, road removal, and site restoration.
"If public land is industrialized for decades, the public deserves more than promises."
Read our full campaign demands or get involved directly.