BC Hydro responsible for massive fish kill on the Cheakamus River

[cohochinook]

BC Hydro has long abused its water license on the Cheakamus River. In 2019 they killed a large number of adult spawning Pink salmon in ramping the river level too quickly, along with juvenile Coho and Steelhead. Now again in 2021, they have had another ramping event that killed close to 10,000 spawning pink salmon and stranded Coho and Steelhead smolts. DFO is not pursuing charges against them is what has been advised at our local Squamish to Lillooet Sportfish Advisory Committee meeting, which is simply unacceptable.

Here is a well written news story on it:

Will BC Hydro be charged for the thousands of fish killed in Squamish?

Officially, DFO says investigation is ongoing after thousands of spawning pink salmon died on the Cheakamus River Oct. 1, but local conservationists say they believe no enforcement action will be taken.

www.squamishchief.com

 

[agentaqua]

Well one can take whatever data/evidence one has to the Public Prosecutor and lay a charge as a private citizen. It will be up to the PP from there on. They could ignore it due to the politics - but might be worth a shot...

 

[cohochinook]

Well one can take whatever data/evidence one has to the Public Prosecutor and lay a charge as a private citizen. It will be up to the PP from there on. They could ignore it due to the politics - but might be worth a shot...

At this point that looks like the only way to get Justice.

 

[agentaqua]

This is how one does that:

Private Prosecution - Laying an Information in BC | Courthouse Libraries BC

In British Columbia, any criminal proceeding that is not brought under s.577 of the Criminal Code is begun with the laying of an information (Form 2, Offence Act / Form 2, Criminal Code). Usually this form is laid by a law enforcement officer but it can also be laid by a member of the publi

www.courthouselibrary.ca

Charging Someone with a Criminal Offence - Clicklaw Wikibooks

wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca

But maybe WCEL can help with that submission:

EDRF Legal Aid Fund | West Coast Environmental Law

Top photo: Shawnigan Residents Association

www.wcel.org

They've done it before:

MiningWatch Canada Files Charges Against B.C. Government and Mount Polley Mine for 2014 Tailings Pond Disaster | Mining Watch Canada

miningwatch.ca