Site C dam: landowners back in court

A group of landowners is back in court to appeal the Site C dam. The group will argue the province should not have given the green light for the $8.8 billion hydroelectric project.

• Site C dam approved by B.C. government
• Site C dam review says benefits outweigh costs
• Site C dam: landowners challenge government in B.C. Supreme Court

"The environmental assessment process has to stand for something," said Ken Boon, president of The Peace Valley Landowners Association.

"Personally, we lose our home and farmland. We will pretty much lose everything we have there," said Boon, who speaks for about 70 landowners in the Peace Valley.

In July 2015, the B.C. Supreme Court found the province was within its rightto approve the project. AJoint Review Panel made 50 recommendations on the proposed dam and questioned the timetable, but despite environmental concerns it concluded there are clear benefits to the project.

The court will hear counter arguments from B.C. Hydro this week.

Regardless of this case's outcome, Boon is hopeful the other three remaining legal challenges will eventually lead to a halt in the project.

"There is more irons in the fire here, so the battle continues," he said.

With files from the CBC's The Early Editionand Claudia Goodine.

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled:Site C dam challenged by landowners in B.C. Court of Appeal.