12

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

2nd Issue
August, 1966

N.D.P. POLICY STATEMENT ON

WATER RESOURCES

RANDOLPH HARDING,
MLA
The available water supply
of British Columbia cannot be
treated simply as a source of
hydro-electricity, or, on the
other hand, as a spill-way for
the waste of industry. It must
be seen in relation to fish-
eries, irrigation and recrea-
tion (as respects the prov-
ince), and as a valuable re-
source in the broadest sense
with respect to the continen-
tal water system.

The New Democratic Party
believes in stricter regulation
of the available water supply
by the Department concern-
ed. Water must be treated as

a diminishing natural re-
source (in the same sense as

forests and minerals) and can-
not, therefore, be despoiled as
is the present practice; by in-
dustrial projects which pol-
lute; by logging which de-
stroys the water-shed; by un-
necessary diversion or point-
less damming.

A New Democratic govern-
ment would introduce legisla-
tion which would impose
severe penalties on those who
pollute or otherwise misuse
the water resources of the
provinee. It would, as well,
establish an ad hoc committee
to study, in co-operation with
other authorities in North
Ameriea, the future utiliza-
tion of water resources, in

order that careful planning,
which precludes wastage,
may be the result. The New

Democratic Party recognizes
the fundamental unity of the
North American Continent in
the case of water resources,
and further recognizes the
need for intelligent and non-
belligerent policies designed
to share these resources with
our neighbours on an equita-
ble and rational basis.

To meet British Columbia’s
power requirements, not only
as regards quantity of nower,
but also to ensure stability of
supply and economy of nrice,
the New Democratic Party
proposes the following pro-
gramme:

1. All hydro develonment
in the province must be car-
ried out by the publicly own-
ed B.C. Hydro,

2. The remaining privately
owned hydro utilities, includ-
ing East and West Kootenay
Light and Power Comnavies
should be-immediately taken
over by B.C. Hydro.

3. The cheavest sourre of
energy should be developed
first. This must be consistent
with sound resource manage-
ment.

4, All power facilities with-
in the province should be in-
tigrated into both a national
and an international grid.

5. The sale of power to the
United States should be con-
sidered only if there is sur-
plus in the province and any
sales should be on a short
term basis.

6. The growing use of na-
tural gas as a fuel and a
source of raw materials for
industry makes it necessary
to ensure stability of supvly
and economy of price to the
consumers. The New Demo-
cratic Party would bring
wholesaling and retailing of
natural gas under public
ownership. This would in-
clude public ownership of the
natural gas pipelines and of
all distribution systems and
would result in a sharp de-
crease in cost to the con-
sumer.

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