Article content continued

Clark’s letter to Horgan begins: “I appreciate being copied on your correspondence to B.C. Hydro CEO Jessica McDonald with respect to current and future planned activities on the Site C Clean Energy Project in Northeast British Columbia.”

“The construction and completion of Site C represents a generational opportunity to provide British Columbia with another stable, long-term asset that can provide electricity for the next 100 years and further reduce B.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions,” she writes.

Clark goes on to detail how a “project of this size and scale” must stick to a strict timeline or risk a $600-million one-year delay.

At issue is the relocation of two homes that allow for scheduled road and bridge construction that will enable river diversion to begin in the fall of September 2019, when water levels are at their lowest. Any delay, according to Clark, would mean river diversion would have to wait for the next low-flow period in September 2020.

“As such, I wish to inform you that the requests contained in your letter are not without consequences to the construction schedule and ultimately have financial ramifications to ratepayers,” the letter continues.

Clark also notes the decision on whether or not to proceed would be needed by June 15 to keep the project on track.

“Given the above information and the short timeframe in which to decide how to proceed, I am seeking the opinions of you and Mr. Weaver no later than June 10th.”

Clark’s letter ends by asking both Horgan and Weaver to respond with specific responses on whether or not the pair will continue to push for a delay on the relocation of the two homes, and whether or not they want government to issue a “tools down” order to the more than 2,000 workers currently building the Site C dam.

Horgan and Weaver have not yet responded to Clark’s letter.