HONOUR SOLEMN TREATY PROMISES AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN FEDERAL SITE C DECISIONS

November 19th, 2015

Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice

Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Dear Honourable Ministers,

Honour Solemn Treaty Promises and Restore Confidence in Federal Site C Decisions

Please find enclosed our letter requesting that your new government take steps to honour solemn treaty promises and restore open, transparent and accountable federal government decision-making regarding the controversial $8.8 Billion Site C Dam project on British Columbia’s Peace River.

We ask for your personal involvement and commitment to make Site C an urgent government priority. Time is running out. Preliminary construction has started. The Peace Valley is beginning to be destroyed for future generations of indigenous and non-indigenous people.

In our letter we outline immediate steps the new federal government can take to start:

· Honouring solemn treaty promises made to First Nations impacted by Site C,

· Restoring openness and transparency to federal Site C decisions, and

· Restoring public confidence in federal Site C decisions.

Site C presents a once-in-a-mandate defining opportunity to implement your mandate to:

· Renew the most important relationship we as Canadians have – that with Indigenous Peoples - based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership,

· Respect and uphold Treaty Rights,

· Review and modify the federal Site C litigation strategy consistent with the above commitments,

· Take immediate steps to restore public confidence in federal environmental assessment decisions, permits, processes, oversight, and enforcement,

· Set and meet a higher bar for openness and transparency in government, and

· Identify, research and pursue other renewable energy options that are more effective at tackling climate change, minimizing the destruction of prime agricultural land, and promoting employment and economic spin-offs, especially for Indigenous Peoples.

Given the urgency, we request a response within the next 2 weeks. We also request an early opportunity to meet with you in Vancouver or Ottawa to answer any questions and provide additional information on Site C.

Sincerely,

Ken Boon, President

Peace Valley Landowner Association

250-262-3205 or 250-262-9014