The "Clean" Energy Act, with even its deceptive name borrowed from the Bush-Rove playbook, serves as a blanket document for overruling virtually every mechanism of accountability, process, public input, safeguards, and oversight regarding energy development, like the BCUC. After consistently being forced to overturn and interfere with the very BCUC mandate that they put in place, the government is using this act to essentially get rid of the Utilities Commission, despite over $9 billion
in projects planned.

The "Clean" Energy Act clearly sets out the government's plan to fast-track all infrastructure for mass exports of power and private energy development, stating that virtually every single energy development project in the province "will not be subject to unnecessary lengthy and costly processes before the B.C. Utilities Commission". This includes such massive government projects as the Site C Dam, the $1 billion Smart Metering program, the Northwest Transmission Line, the Clean and Bioenergy calls, and other major infrastructure/export components of the government's agenda.

The above statement ignores the fact that the BCUC was structured by the current government to provide a vital oversight function, and forces BC utilities to demonstrate need and demand before proceeding with energy development. Ultimately, the Act shows that the government is planning $9 billion in public projects, all without the benefit of public oversight.

"The government isn't even trying to pretend any more that their energy agenda is about anything other than mass exports centered on profiteering for Liberal friends and insiders," said Ross. "In the past, the government has tried to mask their gold rush drive as essential to BC's energy needs; now, they've given up on this and are just powering ahead with an export agenda," added Ross.

"What this Act really looks like is an attempt to sew the crown jewels into their clothing before the masses storm the palace walls," concluded Ross.