BCUC Announces Schedule for Site C Inquiry Community Input Sessions

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 31, 2017) - The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) has announced the schedule for Community Input Sessions to gather public feedback on its preliminary report for the Site C Inquiry.

With the first phase of data and analysis collection closed as of August 30, 2017, the Panel is now beginning its deliberations and will issue a preliminary report on September 20, 2017. The report will be available for review on the BCUC's Site C Inquiry website here: www.sitecinquiry.com.

The BCUC is committed to an open and transparent Site C Inquiry and is attempting to reach all regions and major population centres in the province in order to receive feedback from as many British Columbians as possible. The sessions are open to all members of the public, including representatives of stakeholder organizations. The following Community Input Sessions are confirmed:

Members of the public are invited to register to attend a Community Input Session, and to add a request to speak if applicable. Registration will open starting on Wednesday, September 6, online at www.sitecinquiry.com or by telephone at 1-844-815-6190. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting, on a first come, first served basis.

Making a submission at a Community Input Session is equivalent to providing a written submission; however, only oral submissions will be received at the Community Input Sessions. Submissions are requested to be limited to the contents of the preliminary report and any other specific matters the Panel may seek submissions on. Speaker guidelines will be available on the BCUC's Site C Inquiry website.

The oral submissions made at these Community Input Sessions will form part of the public inquiry record, will be transcribed and will inform the Panel's final report. All submissions, oral and written, will be published on the BCUC's Site C Inquiry website.

Additional sessions may be scheduled if required. The need for these will be evaluated nearer the time based on the demand, notably the size of any wait list. Please see the Site C Inquiry website for further details on the Community Input Sessions, or call 1-844-815-6190.

Members of the public who wish to make written submissions on the preliminary report may do so on or before October 11, 2017 as follows:

Email: sitecsubmission@bcuc.com
Fax: 604-660-1102
Mail: 410-900 Howe Street, Vancouver BC V6Z 2N3

Please note that separate sessions will be scheduled for the Panel to hear First Nations submissions. Members of the public are welcome to attend. However, speaking spots are reserved for First Nations. Further information on these sessions will be provided at a later date.

The Panel will contact individuals and organizations if it requires further information or clarification on their submissions. This may result in an invitation to make a technical presentation to the Panel. These sessions will be open to the general public to attend; however, speaking spots are reserved for those individuals and organizations who have been invited to present by the Panel. Details will be released nearer to the time. There will be no registration for these sessions.

On August 2, 2017, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by OIC No. 244, requested that the BCUC, pursuant to section 5(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, advise the Lieutenant Governor in Council respecting BC Hydro's Site C project, in accordance with the terms set out in the OIC. The OIC is available on the BCUC's Site C Inquiry webpage: www.sitecinquiry.com.