Locked-out employees stand united in front of the FortisBC office in Oliver.
Lyonel Doherty file photo
The Chronicle has learned that a large public relations firm wants to recruit a local senior in the fight against FortisBC rate hikes.
FleishmanHillard has been in touch with outspoken rate hike opponent Donald Thorsteinson about leading the charge for Oliver and Osoyoos. He was instrumental in getting a petition going opposing FortisBC’s two-tier rate hike plan. The petition garnered approximately 1,300 signatures from local ratepayers and those from Princeton to Kelowna. The petition was sent to FortisBC and BC Premier Christy Clark.
“I was singled out to represent the Oliver district because of my involvement. I’m afraid that my ego might get in the way as I want Oliver and Osoyoos to be in the forefront of this campaign,” Thorsteinson said.
Jeffrey Ferrier from FleishmanHillard did not provide details about the company’s plan, but offered the following statement: “Our firm works with a number of different interests who want to keep on top of a variety of issues. As part of that work, we get out into communities across BC to talk with people about many different issues.”
Thorsteinson said the company’s involvement is to get various community leaders (those instrumental in the rate hike campaign) to come together in the fight against the proposed rate increase in 2014. FortisBC is applying for a five-year (2014-2018) performance-based regulatory plan and is requesting a 3.3 per cent increase for 2014.
Thorsteinson said a large industrial corporation in BC is behind the push to quash the proposed rate hike because of the potential impacts on its operations.
“Why they would want a PR firm to get involved in a power dispute is beyond me, but I promised that I would not divulge their name until the actual operation gets underway.”
Thorsteinson said he was told that a former member of the BC Utilities Commission (that gives final approval to the rate hike applications) will be involved and might shed light on the inner workings of this group.
Thorsteinson said the rate hikes not only hurt the common people but businesses too. He also noted the disparity in rates in different areas covered by BC Hydro and FortisBC. This gives some companies an unfair advantage over others, he pointed out.
Thorsteinson stated that another unfair reality is how FortisBC is treating its locked out workers by not giving them a meager raise of one per cent, while top executives are making big money.
He noted it would be nice to see a groundswell of people rising up against the proposed rate hike.
“If nothing becomes of it, at least you can say these people went down fighting.”
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
