1.0    Canadian Hydroelectric Development: Adverse Consequences in their National and Continental Context
2.0    Article 2
3.0    Article 3
4.0    Article 4
5.0    Article 5
6.0    Article 6

Canadian Hydroelectric Development: Adverse Consequences in their National and Continental Context


This paper presents a comparative study of hydroelectric development cases including the Peace River (BC), the Nelson River (manitoba), Niagara Falls (ON), James Bay (Quebec), and Churchill Falls (Labrador) to demonstrates that much went wrong with privatized power development, the predicted industrial transformation, the timing and magnitude of projects, and the reliance on exports. The dam-building rush in recent decades also increased utility debts ($90 billion), had adverse consequences for the environment and local communities, and, by the time it ended, had created 25,000 layoffs. In addition, according to several provincial and national studies, integrating remote power projects within a national electricity network could have brought substantial technical, economic, and environmental advantages.

froschau@sfu.ca