Thread by @Lidsville

There's been surprisingly little discussion of the key way this #SiteC mess was rammed through: by the BC govt kneecapping BC's energy regulator, the BCUC @BCUtilitiesCom. Are we so jaded about corruption that this is no big deal? Campbell did it. @jjhorgan perpetuated it #bcpoli

@BCUtilitiesCom @jjhorgan ..This isn't even what we call 'regulatory capture,' which is when powerful interests capture govt's regulatory processes (like forestry in BC, or BC Oil+Gas Commission). This is arguably worse; just take the existing regulator's powers away full stop. How? Clean Energy Act, 2010

@BCUtilitiesCom @jjhorgan ..And get this: all 3 of Canada's current mega-dam projects are scandal-ridden (both #MuskratFalls & Manitoba's Keeyask have already called public inquiries), & ALL THREE provinces deliberately removed regulatory oversight to ram these projects through.

OVERSIGHT NOW.
#bcpoli

@BCUtilitiesCom @jjhorgan ..When @jjhorgan came to power he not only did nothing to restore proper regulatory power & independence to the BCUC, he only let them do a truncated review of #SiteC with cynically constrained terms of reference. Why was there no outcry forcing him to restore regulation? #bcpoli

@BCUtilitiesCom @jjhorgan ..The BCNDP has done nothing to give us proper regulation generally; not in forestry, oil and gas, or any other area. Why is this not a larger discussion? But this is really critical in terms of energy. BC Hydro remains an outdated dinosaur partly due to lack of smart regulation.

@BCUtilitiesCom @jjhorgan ..What's really sad, and makes British Columbian voters rightly cynical, is that both @jjhorgan and @adriandix excoriated this destruction of regulatory oversight when they each held the post of Energy Critic. #Sitec #bcpoli