In November 2023, Can we believe anything we are told about BC Hydro examined falsehoods about demand growth that have been repeated for almost two decades. People running BC Hydro still feel no obligation for accuracy and transparency when conducting public business.

In September, BC Hydro stated that the Site C reservoir would begin filling in the fall of 2023.

Sarah Cox of The Narwhal reported that BC Hydro “plans to commence Site C reservoir filling in the fall of 2023.” Later, BC Hydro announced it could not safely begin flooding the future reservoir until 2024. BC Hydro’s carefully worded press release said the reservoir filling is “on schedule.”

This reminds me of the common bureaucratic tactic of announcing a project budget of X with a completion date of Y, beginning the project with a larger budget and a later completion date, completing it for 3X dollars well after the amended target date, then announcing the project is on time and on budget.

While construction of the megadam has been underway for more than eight years, B.C.’s public utility appears to be engaged in last-minute efforts to find grizzlies and black bears and relocate them to artificial dens — a plan one biologist says is ‘potentially deadly’ for the creatures.

Sarah Cox, The Narwhal