Macdonald speaks out for local control

Press release –

Message to Ministers loud and clear: people reject the Glacier Howser power project.

A boisterous and determined crowd of East Kootenay residents gathered Thursday night in Invermere to state their opposition to AXOR’s proposed Glacier Howser river-diversion power project which will divert the water from four creeks in the West Kootenay for power production. The power produced will then be transmitted by a new transmission line that will bisect key wilderness areas across the Purcell mountains into the Invermere substation in the East Kootenay. [Read more]

Protest garnered large turnout at Glacier-Howser hydro project meeting

They gathered with signs, adorned themselves with costumes and marched loudly through downtown Invermere chanting phrases like “No dam way!” and “Axor go away!” It was a visible and very vocal message from a community whose once-apathetic nature is clearly being shed.

The cause of yesterday’s (June 25) public display of displeasure is a proposed independent power project slated for construction on the west side of the Purcell Mountains. [Read more]

Thoughts on Glacier-Howser meeting

Thoughts on the Invermere EAO meeting June 25/09.

Attending the Environmental Assessment meeting Thursday evening as part of the public process necessary for the approval or denial of permits was interesting to say the least.

The Axor Group and the EAO, both provincial and Federal agencies, were in attendance along with about 50 + protest individuals, both local and imported. Unfortunately, this meeting coincided with the awards ceremony at the high school so a very limited number of local citizens ( 15 ? individuals) who were not part of the protest group, were able to attend. It is also possible that the citizens of Invermere and area are not that concerned about this particular project could be another explanation. [Read more]

Protest expected at Glacier-Howser open house

As Columbia Valley residents begin to amass in opposition to another significant development proposed in the Purcell Mountains, one would be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu.

While a proposed run of the river hydroelectric project has nothing, directly, to do with a controversial resort development proposed in the Jumbo Valley, many of the same concerns are being voiced. [Read more]

Glacier/Howser power project begins limited public consultation process

Starting next week, local residents will have their only opportunity to comment on the proposed Glacier/Howser power project as Purcell Green Power Inc. undergoes a project review to receive an environmental assessment certificate. Since the passage of Bill 30 (the Ashlu River bill) in 2006, local governments no longer have a say in the placement of private river-diversion power projects leaving local residents with only the faulty environmental assessment process to provide input.

“I feel that it is wrong that public input is now limited to this single forum, but unfortunately, this all that we have,” declared Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald. “Few that have had experience with the environmental assessment process would say that it is adequate as a method of public consultation.” [Read more]