The Líl̓wat Nation is taking the B.C. government and BC Hydro to court over the application of DRIPA, which is the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Three years ago, the Líl̓wat Nation purchased a majority stake in a hydro plant near Whistler, the Brandywine Creek Run-of-River Power Project, which has enough electricity to power 3,500 homes.
Now the nation is taking the B.C. government to court, arguing that the renewal rate offered by BC Hydro was too low and violated the government’s duty to consult.
In a petition to the court, the nation is claiming that the Crown failed in its constitutional duty when negotiating a new deal for the price for that power.
“BC Hydro has presented its arguments and its view, which is consistent across IPPs (independent power producers) and will continue to support the acquisition of electricity and ensure our customers are protected,” B.C.’s Energy Minister, Adrian Dix, said on Tuesday.
In court filings, the nation says that BC Hydro “has absolutely refused to discuss or consider the interests of the Lil’wat Nation in the renewal of the Rockford EPA (Electricity Purchase Agreement).”
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The Conservatives argue the case shows DRIPA is creating uncertainty around investment in B.C.
“If BC Hydro loses this case, all 119 independent power projects are at risk of higher costs if the supplier has Aboriginal ownership, which will fuel already existing economic uncertainty in the province,” Larry Neufeld, BC Conservatives’ energy critic, said.
BC Hydro argues that the Lil’wat Nation bought into the project knowing the contract terms, and says consultation obligations do not extend to improving a nation’s negotiating position.
“The EPA would be a renewal of an existing and operating facility that Lílwat has consented to, and Lílwat’s interest in the facility was purchased well into its operations, with full knowledge of the expiry of its existing EPA and BC Hydro’s EPA Renewal Program rules,” BC Hydro said in a statement.
The BC Supreme Court has already rejected an interim injunction sought by the Lílwat Nation and both sides are waiting for a final ruling.
Bob B1tch – Cool story bro. I see your response to being called out for spreading disinformation is to spread even more disinformation. I mean it’s pretty obvious at this point it’s all you’ve got. Other than ‘No you’ 🤣🤣
Lol look at these f**king clowns getting triggered over my posts Lol. ‘No you’ but but but ‘No you’… That’s all you’ve got 🤣🤣
Pay attention to JV below folks. There you have it. Our local representative of the land stewards is spilling the beans and showing the FNs true motives and intentions with regards to DRIPA. Just keep talking JV ya dmb F’n Natv.
Everyone this is what is going on behind all these closed doors and NDAs agreements. DRIPa is being use to extort financial gain out of the province.
Thankfully it like looks DRIPA will he gutted or repealed sometime between now and shortly after the next election.
It’s now very clear that the FN have zero intentions to act in good faith with the benefit of all BC’ers mind DRIPA.
You up here yet again JV ranting and insulting the voters. Figures!
Oh Hey! yeah. We do get to decide. Two months ago Eby and the NDP almost suspended it!
Only ten MLAs out 87 supported DRIPA. That means 90% of voter registration wants this ended.
That’s a reported fact.
It’s was voted in it can be voted out!
And there is nothing you or the F’nN can do about it. It’s called democracy!
Man JV you are getting desperate in the falsehoods about voting you are trying to spread!
Vote people!
Nothing in BC happens without consulting First Nations. Don’t like it? Then leave
Lol listen to all of the little racist b1tches whining and crying because they don’t get to decide what happens regarding DRIPA. Don’t worry boys all of the decisions will be made behind closed doors and you’ll be the first to hear what the outcome is… and I guarantee it won’t be in favor of your little white b1tch ass. That’s for sure 🤣🤣
How’s that Eby guy working out for you people? Anyone that voted for him must have extreme brain trauma.
Enough, just annex all the nations and call them conqured, throw out the UNs strongly worded letter and ignore the toothless ICJ and tell them to take a hike.
Welcome all indigenous to their new country of Canada leaving behind all rights and titles except for those which are incoming with all canadians as we move forward as one people.
Dont forget to file your tax return on time, and no you can’t claim indigenous tax exceptions anymore because your a proud canadian now
The government should never have signed on to DRIPA without our vote. It should be struck down as being illegal. – that would solve the problem.
The natives get given a share in a hydro project, then get upset when they do not make as much as they want from it. – Quit giving them shares…
For god sakes Eby reacind the DRIPA legislation before it becomes entrenched… It was a horrible idea
A referendum could easily solve it but Eby fears the results might offend his co-premier
I still have a dripa in my tapa
See the comments by tired below regarding all these BC Hydro deals. This is what that other commented is talking about when he goes on about NDAs, private meetings and non disclosure. We, the voters, have no real understanding of what this Government, the FN and DRIPA are really costing the average BC resident.
DRIPA, these agreements and these endless court cases needs to stop.
Contracts? We don’t need no stenking contracts. Just gimme, gimme mo dollars stupid white man
Dripa and undrip are racist and there is no equality in dripa . It favours fn , violates the rights of non fn and discriminates against non fn . Get rid of undrip, dripa and eby
I say DRIPA is unconstitutional
Sit back and wait for the government cheques. The cheques too small? Get more from the courts.
😠 🙄
You think this is bad? In the current power call every recently announced project is 51% FN owned even though they didn’t start the projects themselves. Some other company gets a project started and then “sells” 51% to a FN so that Hydro will accept it. The impact this is going to have on our downstream costs is astronomical.
THE NEEDS OF THE MANY OUTWAY THE NEEDS OF THE FEW.
CAN WE DUMP THIS DRIPA B/S DOWN the TOILET , AND FLUSH PLEASE !!!
DRIPA can’t be repealed soon enough. This is crazy. Co-governance by an unelected minority group is killing BC.
Yawn 🥱, so what another money grab using DRIPA?
Any surprise?
Never ending demands for more money.
They are getting exactly what everyone else gets as a rate and they still want more and trying to DRIPA as leverage.
And supposedly DRIPA is a good thing for everyone involved.
Do they realise that when BC Hydro pays more everyone else in BC gets charged more? ( not the FN care one iota)
Let’s get this to a vote ASAP enough of this greed.