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Premier's statement on five years of delivering results for people

July 18, 2022 10:00 AM
Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement to mark the five-year anniversary of forming a government that puts people first:
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Post-secondary education expanding for students on the Westshore

August 3, 2022 11:00 AM
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Post-secondary education expanding for students on the Westshore

August 3, 2022 11:00 AM
Post-secondary education expanding for students on the Westshore
A new collaborative post-secondary campus will be built in one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities so more students can access education close to home for in-demand jobs.
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Turning the page on adult literacy with increased funding

July 25, 2022 12:00 PM
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Pop the cork! Kelowna vineyard wins major national wine award

August 4, 2022 2:30 PM
A family-owned winery with a strong commitment to organic farming is the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards winery of the year.
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New funding supports farmers, takes action on climate resiliency

July 27, 2022 9:00 AM
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New Kitimat homes provide safe housing for women, children

August 8, 2022 1:15 PM
Women and children leaving violence will soon have access to safe and secure homes as construction begins on a 44-unit housing development in Kitimat.
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Supportive homes for youth coming to Kamloops

August 4, 2022 1:45 PM
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B.C. expands early childhood education dual-credit programs for high school students

August 4, 2022 8:00 AM
More students in grades 11 and 12 will be able to earn both high school and post-secondary credits toward careers in early childhood education with the introduction of 30 new dual-credit programs at school districts throughout B.C.
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Process begins to select family connections centres

May 10, 2022 4:08 PM
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Expansion of cellular coverage makes driving safer in the Cariboo

August 9, 2022 11:30 AM
Cellular coverage is available for the community of Wells, northwest of Barkerville, bringing safer driving conditions to that section of Highway 26 and the Jack-of-Clubs rest area.
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Fast, reliable internet, cell coverage coming to Nass Valley

July 12, 2022 2:30 PM
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Early childhood educator bursaries support career growth for key professionals

August 3, 2022 9:04 AM
Early childhood educator bursaries support career growth for key professionals
More early childhood educators (ECEs) are furthering their education goals with financial support from the ECE Education Support Fund.
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B.C. expands early childhood education dual-credit programs for high school students

August 4, 2022 8:00 AM
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close menu Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

Rebate improvements make electric vehicles more accessible

August 2, 2022 1:00 PM
The Province is improving accessibility to electric vehicles (EVs) by increasing maximum rebate amounts and ensuring they are going to people who need them most.
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Minister’s statement on Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference 2022

July 6, 2022 7:30 AM
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Funding boost gives used plastics new lease on life

August 9, 2022 9:45 AM
Group photo of four people at an announcement
A $10-million investment in the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund will help grow made-in-B.C. solutions to reduce plastic pollution, create new products and increase job opportunities.
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Rebate improvements make electric vehicles more accessible

August 2, 2022 1:00 PM
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Supporting sexual-assault survivors informs work on gender-based violence

August 1, 2022 12:45 PM
As part of the Province’s work to develop an action plan to end gender-based violence, staff at the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC) presented its trauma informed, wraparound supports and services available in Greater Victoria.
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B.C. enhances consumer protection for homebuyers

July 21, 2022 9:30 AM
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Wildfire activity in B.C. will continue through August

August 4, 2022 10:45 AM
British Columbians should remain alert to the threat of wildfire throughout August as conditions remain hot and dry.
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B.C., shíshálh Nation will negotiate joint decision-making agreement

August 2, 2022 10:21 AM
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B.C. encourages parents to register children under 5 for COVID-19 vaccine

July 14, 2022 2:05 PM
B.C. encourages parents to register children under 5 for COVID-19 vaccine
Approximately 208,000 eligible infants and children in British Columbia between six months and four years of age will soon be able to receive vaccine protection against COVID-19.
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Vancouver Coastal Health welcomes back 283 hospital food-service workers

July 22, 2022 11:30 AM
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close menu Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

B.C., shíshálh Nation will negotiate joint decision-making agreement

August 2, 2022 10:21 AM
shíshálh and BC to negotiate landmark shared decision-making agreement
The shíshálh Nation and the Province of British Columbia are starting negotiations on the first joint decision-making agreement to be negotiated under Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
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First Nations clean-energy projects funded on Vancouver Island

July 28, 2022 12:36 PM
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B.C.’s highest honour recognizes 14 British Columbians

August 1, 2022 6:15 AM
B.C.’s highest honour recognizes 14 British Columbians
Fourteen exceptional people will be appointed to the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest form of recognition.
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Outstanding people recognized for service during the pandemic

March 22, 2022 2:30 PM
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Minister’s statement on July’s Labour Force Survey results

August 5, 2022 8:30 AM
Minister’s statement on July’s Labour Force Survey results
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for July 2022:
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Province launching new centre for agritech innovation

July 21, 2022 9:35 AM
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B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers

May 31, 2022 8:30 AM
B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers
As of June 1, 2022, B.C.’s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province.
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Report received on successorship, transfer of timber harvesting rights

July 28, 2022 1:00 PM
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close menu Land, Water and Resource Stewardship

B.C., shíshálh Nation will negotiate joint decision-making agreement

August 2, 2022 10:21 AM
shíshálh and BC to negotiate landmark shared decision-making agreement
The shíshálh Nation and the Province of British Columbia are starting negotiations on the first joint decision-making agreement to be negotiated under Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
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Conservation Officer Service achieves largest-ever invasive mussels decontamination

July 9, 2022 9:00 AM
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close menu Mental Health and Addictions

Settlement reached with Purdue Pharma (Canada) for opioid damages

June 29, 2022 9:08 AM
Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma (Canada) (Purdue Canada) has agreed to a first of its kind settlement in Canada resulting from B.C.-led efforts to recover health-care costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based pain medicines.
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Investment enhances mental-health services in Greater Victoria

July 28, 2022 12:00 PM
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B.C. provides financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians

June 29, 2022 10:15 AM
B.C. provides financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians
Ukrainian citizens arriving in B.C. under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) can now apply for hardship assistance from the B.C. government.
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B.C. investing in healthy northern communities

August 3, 2022 8:00 AM
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Province launches direct payment for evacuees

July 27, 2022 11:00 AM
The Province is launching upgrades to Emergency Support Services (ESS), including direct payment for evacuees to help meet their basic needs, including food and clothing.
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Survey shows significant decrease in illegal cannabis store use

August 2, 2022 8:30 AM
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Supporting co-ops will deliver more services to British Columbians

July 26, 2022 11:15 AM
Supporting co-ops will deliver more services to British Columbians
A new investment of $2 million will support the development and growth of British Columbia’s co-operative businesses, while expanding services for people who use them.
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Provincial funding helps grow a more food secure future

August 5, 2022 10:00 AM
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Province seeks nominees for Medal of Good Citizenship

July 28, 2022 9:30 AM
Province seeks nominees for Medal of Good Citizenship
British Columbians are encouraged to nominate their fellow citizens who have made outstanding contributions through exceptional service to their communities for this year's Medal of Good Citizenship.
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Province, viaSport partner to take abuse out of the game

July 6, 2022 2:00 PM
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Improved transit, connected communities on the way with Surrey Langley SkyTrain

July 14, 2022 10:45 AM
Improved transit, connected communities on the way with Surrey Langley SkyTrain
The first rapid transit project south of the Fraser River in 30 years reached a new milestone with the release of the business case and formal approval of provincial funding for the project.
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Public invited to share input on Taylor Bridge's future

August 9, 2022 8:45 AM
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

Tretheway Creek, Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek hydroelectric projects

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Honourable George Heyman

Honourable George Heyman

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Minister responsible for TransLink

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Email: ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca

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Funding boost gives used plastics new lease on life

August 9, 2022 9:45 AM
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A $10-million investment in the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund will help grow made-in-B.C. solutions to reduce plastic pollution, create new products and increase job opportunities.
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

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Tretheway Creek, Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek hydroelectric projects

https://news.gov.bc.ca/02556

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Information Bulletin

Victoria
Monday, August 20, 2012 3:30 PM

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Information Bulletin

Victoria

Monday, August 20, 2012 3:30 PM

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Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. has received environmental assessment (EA) Certificates for the proposed Tretheway Creek, Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek Waterpower Projects.

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. develops, owns and operates run-of-river hydroelectric facilities, wind farms and solar photovoltaic parks. Innergex carries out operations in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, as well as in Idaho. The company has been involved in the renewable power industry since 1990. Currently, Innergex operates 18 run-of-river plans, nine of which are in B.C.

Environment Minister Terry Lake and Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman made the decision to grant the EA Certificates after considering the review led by B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

The proposed projects, totalling an estimated $194-million, will be located on Tretheway Creek, Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek in the Harrison Lake area of the Fraser Valley Regional District. Once operational, the projects will produce up to 72 megawatts of run-of-river hydroelectric energy, enough to power 27,500 homes per year.

The projects will include 3.25 kilometres of new and upgraded roads and a 47-kilometre, 138-kilovolt transmission line from the existing Tipella Creek Waterpower Project to the Shovel Creek Waterpower project. The completed projects will generate no greenhouse gas emissions.

BC Hydro awarded Electricity Purchasing Agreement (EPA) for the projects in March 2010. Under the conditions of the EPAs, the Commercial Operational Date (electricity delivery date to the BC Hydro grid) is December 2015 for Tretheway Creek and November 2016 for Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek.

The EAO assessment report concluded that the projects are not expected to result in any significant adverse effects, based on the mitigation measures and conditions of the EA Certificate.

The provincial EA certificates contain project design features, mitigation measures and numerous legally binding conditions that Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. must adhere to throughout various stages of the project.

Key requirements include:

  • The Proponent must implement and maintain a minimum in-stream flow requirement for Tretheway Creek, Shovel Creek and Big Silver Creek diversion reaches.
  • The Proponent must develop, test and confirm operational criteria and procedures for flow ramping (controlling the water flow levels during project start-up and shut-down).
  • The Proponent must implement comprehensive Environmental Management Plans that clearly outline proponent and contractors' roles and responsibilities, monitoring requirements, reporting requirements and training components.
  • The Proponent must develop and implement a Mountain Goat Winter Range Management Policy, which specifically addresses construction work restrictions during the sensitive period for mountain goats (Nov. 1 to April 30) to ensure that goats will not be negatively affected by construction activities.
  • Submission of reports to EAO, at specified intervals (annually, prior to construction, operation, decommissioning, and once decommissioning is complete), indicating the status of compliance with the conditions of the EA Certificate.
  • The Proponent must develop and implement a Spotted Owl Habitat Mitigation Plan, which specifically addresses impacts to the Tretheway Creek Spotted Owl Wildlife Habitat Area.
  • The Proponent must develop and implement a Navigation Mitigation Plan for each the projects to address impacts to recreational boat use such as kayaking.

Consistent with EAO's enhanced compliance and enforcement program, EAO will co-ordinate compliance management efforts to ensure that EAO is independently satisfied that certificate conditions are met.

The project required a federal environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. EAO, in collaboration with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, conducted a co-operative assessment of the projects that met both the requirements under the B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Act and a screening-level review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. However, due to recent changes to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the screening-level review will not be completed.

When operational, the projects will provide four to five full-time employment positions. It is estimated that construction of the three projects will require up to a peak of 250 personnel during the four year construction period.

Local and provincial taxes generated over the 40-year lifespan of the projects will be approximately $78 million.

The Sts'ailes and the Xa'xtsa (Douglas) First Nation participated in the environmental assessment and the proponent continues to engage the Sts'ailes and the Xa'xtsa First Nation in the project. The B.C. government is satisfied that the Crown's duties to consult and accommodate First Nations' interests have been discharged as they relate to the decision to grant the EA Certificate.

Before the project can proceed, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. must obtain the necessary provincial and federal licences, leases and other approvals.

More information on the EA Certificate can be found at: www.eao.gov.bc.ca

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at: www.gov.bc.ca

Contact:

Suntanu Dalal
Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 387-9745


https://news.gov.bc.ca/02556

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