BC Hydro is taking a Vanderhoof ranching family to court, claiming the family is impeding construction of the $6-billion North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL), one of the federal government’s “nation-building” projects that’s billed as way to power new gas and mining projects in the so-called “golden triangle” in northern B.C.
A petition filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Nov. 28 alleges that Kenneth Fawcett, Carolyn Fawcett and a handful of others have wrongfully blocked access to properties which are under rights-of-way that permit crews to engage in construction work for the NCTL.
To date, BC Hydro has been unable to complete pre-construction work — such as forest-clearing and environmental surveys — because the respondents have prevented access to the properties, the petition alleges.
The respondents in the case are the owners of Little Valley Farms, a fifth-generation beef producer. Kenneth Fawcett is also the president of the B.C. Breeder and Feeder Association.
Since 2023, BC Hydro has been in discussions with the respondents about entering into an agreement for the pre-construction activities needed to prep for the NCTL build. The respondents have not come to any such agreement to date, the petition states.
The petition claims that aside from some brief periods of access in May and July 2025, the respondents have “repeatedly denied” access to the properties.
Construction on phase one of the NCTL is scheduled to begin next summer. That work is planned to be completed and phase one made operational in 2030. BC Hydro says the project timeline will be delayed if access continues to be denied.
The project is already expected to cost $6 billion, and additional delays would take on “substantial” additional capital costs, the petition says.
It adds this could have “broader implications” on the public, including higher rates for BC Hydro customers, delay in the new projects that can’t go ahead without the NCTL, resulting economic impacts and more greenhouse gas emissions from projects that would keep using gas and diesel instead of power from the NCTL.
BC Hydro is seeking a court order authorizing the RCMP to enforce the Crown corporation’s right to access the properties and prevent the family from interfering with construction of the NCTL.
None of the allegations in the petition have been proven in court, and the respondents have not yet filed a response to the petition.