In a legal blow to Tsawwassen residents trying to block the construction of a new power line by their homes, the B.C. Transmission Corporation obtained a court injunction Wednesday to stop the homeowners from interfering with upgrades.
The move comes after B.C. Transmission Corp. was accused of using intimidation tactics, including the use of video cameras to capture images of residents who live along the power line route and are opposed to the upgrade project.
The B.C. Supreme Court has confirmed that the company has all the permits and authority necessary to begin construction of the upgraded high-voltage lines.
Residents say the lines to Vancouver Island pose a health risk and they've tried to block the company from accessing their land to begin construction.
The Transmission Corp. says existing right-of-way agreements established in the 1950s give the company and BC Hydro the legal right to access the land.
When it is complete, the upgraded 57-kilometre transmission line will stretch from substations in Ladner on the B.C. mainland, to the Vancouver Island town of Duncan, intersecting Tsawwassen along the way.
It will also provide additional power to three southern Gulf Islands, including Salt Spring Island, Parker and Galiano. The upgrades are expected to be completed by October.
However, it has emerged on Wednesday that B.C. Transmission Corp. used video cameras to build evidence for the court injunction, now granted, to keep four homeowners from barring construction workers from their properties.
Marion Fahlman is one of those home owners. In an interview with CTV, she said she has concerns surrounding the information contained in the evidence package.
"I was shocked, I had no idea why they would spying on us,'' she said.
Besides the dvds, there are copies of comments posted on internet forums, e-mails sent by residents, and printouts from a Facebook group created to promote last week's blockade on highway 17.
"What has that got to do with me denying access to my property?" said Fahlman.
The B.C. Transmission Corp. says the court requested it deliver copies of the evidence package to the homeowners.
As for the type of material that was included, B.C. Transmission Corp. President Jane Peverett said: "The evidence was carefully considered in terms of what would be required to support the injunction."
As for the type of material that was included, B.C. Transmission Corp. President Jane Peverett said: "The evidence was carefully considered in terms of what would be required to support the injunction."
As for the type of material that was included, B.C. Transmission Corp. President Jane Peverett said: "The evidence was carefully considered in terms of what would be required to support the injunction."
The plan to build the lines has been the subject of a community battle for years now, sparking large rallies and court challenges. Fahlman says she hasn't been involved in any protest activity, other than posting signs around her yard.
The plan to build the lines has been the subject of a community battle for years now, sparking large rallies and court challenges. Fahlman says she hasn't been involved in any protest activity, other than posting signs around her yard.
The plan to build the lines has been the subject of a community battle for years now, sparking large rallies and court challenges. Fahlman says she hasn't been involved in any protest activity, other than posting signs around her yard.
"I felt intimidated and I'm pretty sure that was their intention,'' she said. " We know what's going on out there, we're watching you, we're keeping our eye on you."
The project is scheduled to be finished by this fall.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber.
"I felt intimidated and I'm pretty sure that was their intention,'' she said. " We know what's going on out there, we're watching you, we're keeping our eye on you."
The project is scheduled to be finished by this fall.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber.
"I felt intimidated and I'm pretty sure that was their intention,'' she said. " We know what's going on out there, we're watching you, we're keeping our eye on you."
The project is scheduled to be finished by this fall.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber.
