Premier warns against pointing fingers

Canadian Press
Monday, June 20, 2005

VICTORIA (CP) -- Premier Gordon Campbell says there are lessons to be learned from B.C. Hydro's decision to abandon the proposed Duke Point power project near Nanaimo.

B.C. Hydro cancelled the project last week, saying a continuing appeal process meant there was too great a risk the plant would not be built in time and that other arrangements would have to be found to ensure the supply of power on Vancouver Island.

Alberta-based Pristine Power, which was supposed to build the power plant, and Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan were critical of B.C. Hydro after it made its announcement on Friday.

But Campbell said he doesn't want to find someone to blame and rejected calls for a public inquiry into the matter.

"I certainly understand the comments of the mayor of Nanaimo, but I think we should start by saying, you know, what can we learn and recognize everyone wants to learn from this," he said from Philadelphia, where he was attending a bio-technology conference on Monday.

"It's not looking for blame, it's looking for how we can do better in the future."

Korpan was especially critical of Hydro for wasting an estimated $120 million on the project.

"It has been a total waste of everyone's time, money and worry," he said on Friday. "How B.C. Hydro management has any credibility in the business community or with the public now eludes me."

Environmental groups have said the Duke Point plant would cause too much pollution and electrical needs could be met by renewable power sources and through conservation.

© Canadian Press 2005