Thoughts on BC Politics and More

According to a November 28, 2024 Global News story, BC Hydro imported one quarter of the provinces power needs in the 12 previous months . The story stated that for the fiscal year ending March 2024, BC Hydro imported 13,600 gigawatt hours of electricity at a cost of nearly $1.4 billion. Still, Clean Energy Canada (a climate and clean energy program within the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University) wants us to believe that : B.C.’s electricity grid can handle increased demand from EVs, heat pumps and extreme weather events ... AND THAT ... recent claims to the contrary are not based in reality. Here's the thing though, according to the Government of BC the recent call, for new renewable energy projects, will provide less than 5,000 gigawatts of power per year (just over a third of what we imported in fiscal year 2024).  That power of course flowing only once construction is completed, and starts flowing into BC Hydro’s system. The fact is, BC Hydro has bee...

NDP's 2019 election platform promises mental, dental, hearing coverage for all. CBC News got an early look at what’s inside the NDP platform David Thurton ~~ CBC News ~~ Jun 16, 2019 The NDP will be the first Canadian federal party to unveil an election platform that promises to drastically expand Canada's health care system to include, not just pharmacare, but mental, dental, eye and hearing coverage for all citizens. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh ... (gave the) CBC an early look at the platform.       What else does the NDP platform promise to do? Commit to fully and equitably fund health education and other services in Indigenous communities. Create an action plan to prevent suicide. Cap and reduce tuition fees and student loan interest, with an eventual goal of free post-secondary education. Ban unpaid internships. Introduce federal incentives for zero-emissions automob...

The NDP passed a bill this spring requiring BC to sell nothing but Zero Emission Vehicles by 2040. Was this a good piece of legislation? In my opinion, the goal of having people drive a zero-emission vehicle is a good one, but what the bill did NOT do was explain how this could be achieved. First, where will the electricity come from? With expected population growth, BC will require the equivalent of 4 Site C dams in production, to meet the electrical d emand from electric vehicles. Now some of those vehicles may be hydrogen but the result would be the same as the production of hydrogen still requires electricity. How will this amount of electricity be created? Some say from solar or wind. Those are fine but how will that power be firmed. Also, are you prepared to pay skyrocketing electricity prices? That is what this bill by the NDP will mean. How is that making life more affordable? Second, high speed charging stations requires si...