Rob worked with leading firm Lidstone & Company on behalf of Local Governments to advance reconciliation with First Nations. This often included the negotiation of win-win agreements between local government and First Nations on servicing and critical infrastructure needs.
Examples of Clients
District of Hudson’s Hope
No other community in the province will be as impacted by Site C to the extent that Hudson’s Hope will. Rob worked closely with then Mayor Johansson to ensure that the interests of Hudson’s Hope were front and centre when dealing with the substantial negative impacts of Site C on the community.
Part of this work included working with Hudson’s Hope Council and community members to identify the adverse impacts on the community and negotiate with BC Hydro to secure compensation and mitigation measures.
Projects
Community measures
agreement for Site C
- Figure out what negative impacts Hudson’s Hope would experience as a result of Site C
- Defend the interests of Hudson’s Hope and make sure the impacts were mitigated or compensated by the provincial government.
Mayor Johansson speaking to media in Vancouver, BC.
Media Coverage
Peace Country Mayor Calls on B.C. to Refer Site C Dam Decision to Independent Regulator
The Narwhal
July 10, 2014 – With a provincial decision on the Site C dam expected in September, the District of Hudson’s Hope is calling on B.C. Premier Christy Clark to refer the Site C dam project for review by the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC).
Site C Dam threatens BC’s credit rating: Hudson’s Hope Mayor, Council
Common Sense Canadian
July 15, 2014 –
Dear Premier Clark,
Re: British Columbia Utilities Commission Review of Proposed Site C Dam Project
I am writing to urgently request that you refer the proposed Site C Dam Project to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for further review of project costs, alternatives to Site C, and related issues prior to making a decision on this project.
Toxic Landslides Raise Alarms about Fracking, Site C
The Tyee
June 6, 2016 – Almost two years after slides began carrying heavy metals into creeks, few answers. Toxic heavy metals including arsenic, barium, cadmium, lithium, and lead are flowing into the Peace River following a series of unusual landslides that may be linked to natural gas industry fracking operations.
Documents
Site C Poses
Threat to British
Columbia’s Triple-A
Credit Rating
Threat to British
Columbia’s Triple-A
Credit Rating
Backgrounder
on Urban Systems
Site C Report
on Urban Systems
Site C Report
First Nations Reconciliation
Rob worked with the City of Chilliwack to ensure that a win-win balance is achieved between the City’s interests and those of First Nations within Chilliwack municipal boundaries.
A major new opportunity for First Nations Reconciliation is the Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association’s treaty agreement.
Urban treaties are both a benefit to First Nations involved and address in a meaningful way the interests of municipalities in which they’re located.
Projects
Where Rob came in:
- Worked with the City of Chilliwack and First Nations with reserves within the City’s boundaries to achieve win-win agreements on servicing and critical infrastructure needs
- Worked with the City of Chilliwack to support reconciliation and ensure that its interests were properly represented in the process
Media Coverage
First Nations, federal and B.C. provincial governments sign new treaty agreement
CBC
The British Columbia government says a new agreement between a group of Indigenous people and the provincial and federal governments is…
