The Gitanyow hereditary chiefs said Monday they are ready to step up their fight of the $404-million Northwest Transmission Line in the face of what they are calling an inadequate benefits-package offer from B.C. Hydro.
"We are going to be blocking roads. We are going to be doing whatever it takes," said Deborah Good, one of the Gitanyow's hereditary chiefs.
She said they were set to meet with B.C. Hydro again, but she held out little hope the Crown corporation's perspective would change.
B.C. Hydro acknowledged there is a gap in expectations, but they are committed to continuing discussion with the Gitanyow. "We are quite hopeful we can reach an agreement," said Bruce Bennett, a senior B.C. Hydro official in charge of major transmission and distribution projects.
He said the lack of an agreement with the Gitanyow would not hold up the project, as there are other places work can take place that are not in contention.
The power line was given approval by the federal government last Friday. Two months earlier, the province approved the project following an environmental regulatory process.
The 344-kilometre transmission line is expected to lead to industrial development, including mining and run-of-the-river power projects.
Even though the power line and industrial development would take place in a largely-untapped region of northwest B.C., the development is expected to have spinoff benefits for Prince George.
The city is the largest community in northern B.C., and acts as a supply and service centre for the region.
The Gitanyow say they have been offered a package that includes contracts, training and cash, but say it does not properly consider the impacts on the 104 kilometres of its traditional territory the power line would traverse. The First Nation says nearly half of the power corridor will pass through its traditional territory.
Good would not say how much cash they have been offered, although the First Nation has been offered about 40 kilometres of land-clearing contracts.
Good said B.C. Hydro does not seem to realize that because unemployment rates are so high in First Nation communities, their reliance on the land is high.
"When you lose that much land to things like a transmission line, or a highway, or a logging road, the impact is severe," she said.
Bennett said they had tabled offers with the Gitanyow but would not say what were their value. He said the primary goal it to reach a fair and meaningful agreement with key stakeholders, including aboriginal groups. But those agreements must also meet the project needs and consider B.C. Hydro rate payers, said Bennett.
The Crown corporation has reached benefits agreements with five of nine First Nations they have been in discussions with since 2007, including the Nisga'a and the Tahltan.
Aboriginal groups they have not reached agreements with include the Lax Kw'alaams.
The provincial government and mining interests have welcomed the approval of the transmission line by the federal government, saying it would spur industrial development.
A 2008 report commissioned by the Mining Association of B.C. and the Northern Development Initiative Trust concluded the power line could spur a $15-billion investment and 10,000 jobs.
The report cautioned the benefits would only be created if the resource projects went ahead, also saying they would likely take place over time.
