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THE GREAT CANADIAN WATER RIP-OFF:
ALCAN POWER SALES

The Issue
Once a partner in building our province, Alcan is now cheating British Columbians out of one of their most valuable water resources.

Since 2000, Alcan has been selling power generated from the Nechako/Kemano river system in Northern BC to the US, generating obscene profits at the expense of industrial output and jobs.
This is breaking the terms of Alcan's contract with the province of BC, which gave the multinational access to the most valuable public water resource in the province to smelt aluminum.

The Ask Three levels of government representatives and a growing coalition of Canadians are calling on Alcan to honour its agreement with the people of BC by fully utilizing the water resource to grow the aluminum industry and stopping its power sales.

This will restore economic stability to the region and maximize the value of this precious public resource. The Nechako River system is huge - it would cover all of Vancouver Island to the depth of four feet.

The Rip-Off
Alcan is using BC's public resources to finance investment elsewhere, while reducing its operations in BC to sell power.

Electricity is over 1/3 the cost of aluminum production.

At $5 per MWh, Kemano generates the cheapest power in the world. Alcan is making a 1000% profit selling this power. Alcan makes approximately $140 million profit per year from its Kitimat power sales.

Meanwhile, Kitimat is hurting.

Because of these power sales, Kitimat's population has dropped by about 2,000 and the district now has the highest vacancy rates in the province. The Nechako River system was not a gift and should be used to create wealth for British Columbians and not just Alcan.

The Damage
The economic impact of these power sales is increasingly damaging BC's economy: - 400 direct jobs lost and more to come - $226 million loss in annual gross industrial output - $8 million loss in provincial tax revenue - $110 million in lost property value

The Support
There is now a groundswell of political opposition to Alcan's misuse of BC's most valuable water resource:

"There is growing pressure on both Alcan and the government to ensure that public resources - the Nechako River and the electricity it generates - be used to benefit all British Columbians."
Carole James, Leader of the Opposition, BC New Democratic Party

"I believe that it is in the best interests of Alcan and the community of Kitimat to finally resolve the issue of power sales. The best way forward is for Alcan to use the power available for the production of aluminum."
Nathan Cullen, Federal MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley

"The current government has let Alcan get away with the sell-off of this public resource. The river belongs to the people of BC. The benefits of damming it should go to British Columbians."
Robin Austin, Skeena MLA

"This situation is unacceptable and has been for far too long. It is an issue that is destroying what lies at the heart of this great province of ours - our land and our natural resources."
Rick Wozney, Mayor of Kitimat

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Lærum af reynslu annara þjóða, kæru Íslendingar. Velkomin í Straumsvík.

THE GREAT CANADIAN WATER RIP-OFF: ALCAN POWER SALES

THE GREAT CANADIAN WATER RIP-OFF:
ALCAN POWER SALES