Site C Dam moves forward amid controversy » Dam will damage Treaty 8 Native lands and damage their food sources Lauren Kelly News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca he proposed Site C Dam, which would be the third dam built on the Peace River in the Peace Valley region of BC, for many years. Although it will provide more energy to BC, it will flood lands belonging to the damage their fisheries. The first dam on the river, the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, began operation in 1968. In 1980, the Peace Canyon Dam opened 23km downstream. Although the Site C Dam was initially proposed alongside these two, its proposal was rejected by BC Hydro in 1983. In December 2014, after three years of review by the federal and provincial government, the provincial government approved the : project for construction at a cost : of $8.335-billion. The dam will : flood 100km of valley inhabited : by the Treaty 8 First Nations and : 3,800 hectares of agricultural : land. In an op-ed for the Georgia : Straight, BC NDP candidate : Diana Day states “The Peace has been a matter of controversy Valley region is vital agricultural : land and may very well be the : bread basket of BC in the future. : T 8 First Nati d : We simply cannot afford to lose reaty 5 First Nations group an this land to Site C” The dams have also harmed : the fish in the Peace Valley rivers, a vital food source for the : Treaty 8 Native groups. Chief : Derek Orr of McLeod Lake First : Nation said ina press release : on the subject: “It’s been 50+ : years since the first backhoes : disturbed the sediments on the : Williston Reservoir, releasing : methylmercury into the rivers : and streams on Treaty 8 : traditional territory—and it’s : still here, contaminating our : fisheries and endangering our health.” In a study released by the : West Moberly and McLeod Lake : First Nations, it was revealed : that 98 per cent of the fish : caught in the Willston Reservoir : surrounding the W.A.C. Bennett : Dam contained mercury ? amounts that exceeded the : guidelines for safe consumption. “Building the proposed : Site C dam would increase the : exposure to potentially higher : levels of mercury measures in : three more rivers and many : streams that are important for : the aboriginal fisheries in the : area,’ said Chief Roland Willson : of West Moberly First Nations in : the same release. “By ramming : through the Site C dam project : in the face of negative findings : by the government’s own Joint : Review Panel, Premier Clark is : giving us the impossible choice : of sacrificing either our culture : or our health.” Image from desmog.ca Rising cost of Vancouver housing sparks protests » Advocates hope to bring changes to the Vancouver housing market Mercedes Deutscher Staff Reporter Rv of the Lower ainland continue to protest the rising prices of Vancouver properties. Hundreds of people gathered outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery on May 24 to bring attention to the increasing cost of living in Vancouver. At the protest, organized by Vancouverites for Affordable Housing, attendants presented data regarding the increase of Vancouver housing prices over several decades. Some of the protesters in attendance were adults with young families, saying that the costs of living in Vancouver have forced them to move out of the city. Among the protesters was Eveline Xia, who had started a viral Twitter conversation in April titled #donthaveimillion, which featured adults listing their age, occupation, and the hashtag. Although not in attendance, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson released a statement to the media that the City of Vancouver is attempting to address the rise in housing prices. Robertson also suggested that : higher governments do more to : help. “One of the biggest ways we could boost affordability [...] is : for the federal government to re- : engage in housing.” BC Premier Christy Clark : has responded to protesting : Vancouverites and to the : opposition leader John Horgan, : saying that “We're making sure : we look across the world to see : what’s worked and what hasn’t, : to see what’s had unintended consequences and what hasn‘t.” It : was a move that was celebrated by : advocates like Xia. A group of realtors also : made a decision to get involved : in the affordability conversation. : After Xia’s hashtag went viral, : the group bought the domain : donthavermillion.com and : opened the Twitter account @ : donthavermil. The group is : working to aid people looking Image from Thinkstock : into buying real estate in the : Vancouver area by donating free : services that are valued at a total : of $1-million. The actions of the real estate : group resulted in both praise and : negative backlash. Some have : seen the gesture as a generous one : froma group that wishes to assist : first-time buyers. Other affordable : housing advocates view the : group’s actions as selfish. In an interview with CBC, : Xia accused the real estate group : of twisting the conversation : and only being “in it for : personal gain.” Xia hopes that : the conversation will return to : its original intention: to bring : awareness and action towards the : increasing costs of property in : Vancouver. Vancouverites for Affordable : Housing continues to encourage : supporters to take action outside : of protests by sending data related to Vancouver housing prices. THE OTHER PRESS IS HIRING UY etl et ag The Other Press is hiring for an Editor-in-Chief for the 2015/16 year. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the editorial content of all six sections of the newspaper, including planning, editing, and overseeing production of each week's issue. Must haves: - Extensive experience with editing, and editorial print and online production - Experience managing a diverse team of new and experienced writers and editors - Abackground in journalism - Strong writing and editing experience - Experience with the Other Press is a must Pay: $1,400/month Interested? Send cover letter, resumé, and writing/other relevant samples to editor@theotherpress.ca by July 15.