REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - APRIL 9, 2002
MOTION B.1

1. Maintain Public Control of BC Hydro (File: 1263)

At the Council meeting of March 26, 2002, Councillor Louis submitted the following Notice of Motion, which was recognized by the Chair.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

WHEREAS, BC Hydro is a crown corporation owned and developed for the benefit of all British Columbians;

AND WHEREAS, BC Hydro contributed $904 million to the provincial government in 2001 enabling the funding of medical care, education and other government services;

AND WHEREAS, all sectors of the BC economy benefit from the third-lowest power rates in North America delivered from clean, reliable sources;

AND WHEREAS, BC Hydro employs British Columbians to deliver power to the people of the province;

AND WHEREAS, deregulation and privatization will result in price increases estimated by the provincial government's Energy Task Review Committee to be in the 30 to 80 per cent range;

AND WHEREAS, the Joint Industry Electricity Steering Committee recognizes that the "electric power customers and the BC economy are being well served with reliable power at regulated, predictable rates" and "BC Hydro is returning substantial benefits to the province";

AND WHEREAS, BC Hydro's integrated systems and services are critical to the utility's ability to provide reliable power at affordable pricing that does not discriminate against any customers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, in order to preserve the valuable public asset of BC Hydro, the City of Vancouver urge the province to retain BC Hydro as a complete entity within a regulated pricing structure.

Referred

Also before Council was a letter, dated April 8, 2002, from the Office & Professional Employees' International Union, Local 378 requesting to speak. The Chair advised consideration of the motion will be referred to a future Standing Committee meeting to hear the speaker.

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver