Landowners fight Site C deadline from BC Hydro
Andrew Kurjata and Mike Laanela | CBC News | Posted: October 31, 2016 2:49 PM | Last Updated: October 31, 2016
Earlier this month, Ken and Arlene Boon received a letter from BC Hydro telling them time is running out
It is the final day for some landowners to sign a deal with BC Hydro to make way for construction of the Site C dam, but at least one couple is still hopeful they can stay.
Earlier this month, Ken and Arlene Boon received a letter from BC Hydro telling them their time on the farm is running out.
"They wanted consensual agreements by the end of that month or they would take next steps — which next steps in this case is expropriation," said Ken.
Because the Site C dam will flood existing roads, BC Hydro wants to build new ones right through the Boon's farmland, near Fort St John.
But the Boons don't understand the rush to get them off the land so soon.
"Why can't we just stay in our house through the winter and then move in the spring? According to their own timeframe, that shouldn't be a problem," he said.
Their lawyer is hopeful the deadline can be extended and he can continue working on his farm, said Ken.
"I guess the main reason would be that we're still hopeful that this project's going to be stopped and there's a real possibility it will," he said.
Ken Boon, president of the Peace River Valley Landowners Association, lost his legal fight to stop the project, but two B.C, First Nations are still fighting Site C in federal court.
BC Hydro has not commented on the details of negotiations.