Power Line Construction in Tsawwassen

Power line construction of the Tsawwassen segment of the Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement (VITR) project is now complete. The British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) is now conducting landscape restoration activities at affected properties along the right-of-way. For more information, see the November 2008 VITR update listed below under Correspondence.

On June 11, 2008 the BC Supreme Court granted BCTC and BC Hydro an injunction against seven property owners, regarding their four properties. The Court's order and the judge's Reasons for Judgment are listed below under Correspondence. 

Should more details become available, Delta will provide that information to the public through our website. Throughout this process, Delta has encouraged BCTC to minimize disruption for local residents.

We would like our citizens to know that the Corporation of Delta has not given BCTC any approvals or permits for construction or to access municipal land, including dedicated paths, roads or lanes over which BC Hydro has no registered right-of-way. On June 4, 2008 Delta sent a letter to BC Hydro and BCTC challenging them to provide their authority for entering Delta's land without our approval. On June 10, 2008 BCTC responded, saying in part as follows:

For the properties listed in your letter, and any other dedicated roads, BCTC relies on the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity ("CPCN") granted for the Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project under British Columbia Utilities Commission Order No. C-04-06 dated July 7, 2006. As you are aware, the Corporation of Delta's authority over dedicated highways under section 36 of the Community Charter is subject to the Utilities Commission Act and to all orders, certificates and approvals issued, granted or given under that Act, such as the VITR CPCN. A highway includes streets, lanes, and paths as set out in your letter. In BC Hydro and BCTC's case, these provisions are reinforced by section 32 and section 2 of the Hydro and Power Authority Act and Transmission Corporation Act, respectively, which provide that BC Hydro and BCTC are not subject to the Community Charter.

In other correspondence, BCTC has also referred to section 20 of the Hydro and Power Authority Act.

Correspondence

We will provide further updates concerning this project as they become available. Visit our Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project webpage for more information.

Contact Information

For further information on this project, contact BCTC Community Relations by phone at (604) 699-7456 or email community.relations@bctc.com.