BCUC Determines That It Has No Jurisdiction to
Approve Low-Income Rates
On January 20, 2017, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) released its decision in a BC Hydro Rate Design Application (the Decision). The Decision addresses a number of issues related to how BC Hydro sets its rates, and will be applicable to the updated BC Hydro revenue requirement being determined in a separate proceeding.

Among other things, the Decision approves the continuation of BC Hydro's two-tier residential rate structure, the simplification of BC Hydro's commercial rate structure and the termination of a legacy rate program for customers with space and water heating from BC Hydro. A summary of the Decision is set out in the BCUC's News Release explaining the Decision.

One main topic addressed in the Decision is around whether the BCUC has the jurisdiction to approve separate distribution rates (or waiver from certain charges) for low-income customers. This topic arises because, in addition to the rate design approvals sought by BC Hydro, other parties in the proceeding made their own proposals. Notable among these was a series of requests/proposals from the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization (referred to as BCOAPO) and other aligned groups for approvals that would assist low-income ratepayers having difficulty with rising electricity bills. A fundamental part of the BCOAPO proposals was for the BCUC to approve an "essential services usage block" (ESUB) rate applicable to a base level of electricity consumption. The ESUB rate would only be available for qualified low-income ratepayers. Read the full article by David Stevens of Aird & Berlis LLP's Energy Group.

President Trump's Executive Order on Keystone XL –
Encouragement But Not an Approval
On January 24, 2017, President Trump issued an executive order inviting TransCanada Keystone Pipeline LP to re-submit its application to the State Department for a Presidential Permit for the construction and operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and directing the State Department to expeditiously review and reach a final determination, using much of its previous analysis, within 60 days of TransCanada's application. If the Presidential Permit is granted, President Trump's executive order also directs the Department of the Army, the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife to expeditiously review and approve as warranted, water crossings, rights of way and other permits required for the pipeline. This is encouraging news for TransCanada (which has already indicated that it intends to re-submit its application for the Presidential Permit), and for the US$8B, 830,000 bbl/d project that has been frustrated by regulatory and political delays since 2008. President Trump's executive order is not a Presidential Permit, however, and significant legal and commercial issues still lie ahead. Read the full article by Alan L. Ross and Peter Bryan.

Incentives Power Up the Switch to
Electric Vehicles on the Job
The Province is providing $385,000 to offer incentives for zero-emission specialty-use vehicles, helping businesses and vehicle fleets lower fuel costs and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and supporting the zero-emission vehicle sector in British Columbia.

Specialty-use vehicles are used on the job in factories and warehouses, on campuses and city streets, at parks and resorts, malls, airports and dockyards. Zero-emission specialty-use vehicles include electric or hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles, low-speed utility trucks, heavy duty transport trucks, passenger buses and airport and port service vehicles.

Michelle Stilwell, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum announced the program [January 27^th] at Canadian Electric Vehicles in Errington, near Parksville on Vancouver Island, manufacturer of the electric Might-E utility truck. Read the full government news release.

2017 Policy Update – Spills Response –
Proposed Regulations for EMA
The Ministry of Environment recently released a new policy update concerning the Spills Response Regime for BC. The Regime intends to enhance preparedness, response, and recovery actions taken for all types of spills that cause pollution, harm the environment or threaten public safety, regardless of their source. This policy paper will be used to build regulations for the Land-Base Spill Preparedness and Response Regime due to be introduced this spring. View the 2017 Policy Update.

Ombudsman Reports Serious Gaps in Access to Helicopter
Emergency Transport for Rural Workers
Calls on BC government to review current legislation and guarantee equal access for all BC residents
Injured forestry workers in remote or rural parts of the province must wait – often for many hours – to access air ambulance, reports the BC Forest Safety Ombudsman in a report released today.

"Rural communities today are impacted twice compared to urban centres – first, in reduced access to medical care and again in reduced access to emergency medical transportation," said BC Forest Safety Ombudsman Roger Harris. "For remote communities, as the distance to the nearest medical facility increases, the access to HEMS should be enhanced, not reduced."

The report, Will It Be There – A Report on Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in BC, indicates that the serious gaps in the provision of emergency medical transport for workers in rural parts of the province threatens the medical outcomes of forestry workers – as well as residents – who have little to no guarantee to timely medical response in the event of an emergency. The current system falls short when compared to other jurisdictions such as Washington State or Alaska, with similar geography to BC, which have legislation to ensure that 99% of their population is within a 60-minute response time to a Level 3 trauma centre. Read the full BC Forest Safety article with links to the report.

Canada and British Columbia Invest in Wood
Innovation Research Lab at UNBC
$4.5-milllion investment will support students, expand research and foster innovation
Premier Christy Clark [on January 20^th] announced a $4.5-million joint federal-provincial investment that will accelerate innovation in timber engineering and development of wood products at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Premier Clark made the announcement during the Natural Resource Forum in Prince George on behalf of the Province of B.C. and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Of the $4.5-million investment:

• $1.88 million from the Government of Canada.
• $2.62 million from the Government of British Columbia.

The City of Prince George is providing land for the facility in downtown Prince George, adjacent to the Wood Innovation and Design Centre. The Wood Innovation Research Lab will be used by students in the master of engineering in integrated wood design program and the BC leadership chair in tall wood and hybrid structures engineering. Read the full government news release.

Lumber Industry, BC Government to Launch
Softwood Lobbying Campaign
New campaign will aim to convince U.S. consumers, politicians and buyers on the merits of an equitable deal
The B.C. Lumber Trade Council and provincial government say they will launch a lobbying campaign to try to convince American consumers, politicians and lumber buyers that an equitable softwood lumber deal is required.

Susan Yurkovich, the president of the council, and BC Forests Minister Steve Thomson say an agreement on softwood lumber is needed to avoid the damage that will result from import restrictions into the U.S. and higher prices.

Yurkovich and Thomson, who met with federal Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday [February 6^th] in Ottawa, say no budget has been set for the lobbying effort. But if the past is any indication, such a campaign can be expensive. Read more of the CBC News article.