British Columbia renames Site C dam after John Horgan

The government of British Columbia has renamed the Site C hydroelectric dam after former premier John Horgan, who died after leaving office. Premier David Eby announced the decision in Victoria, with Horgan's family present.

Eby acknowledged the complexity of the decision, noting that Horgan himself did not support the project but allowed it to proceed. He said that if Horgan were alive, he would not have permitted anything to be renamed after him, joking that Horgan would have used much rougher language to express that sentiment.

The dam, located on the Peace River, began construction in 2015 under a previous government. When Horgan's administration took office two years later, he concluded the project was too advanced to cancel. The facility became fully operational last year. Its final cost was approximately $16 billion, nearly double the original estimate.

Eby stated that naming the facility the John Horgan Dam and Generating Station reflects the nuance and difficult choices Hogan faced during his tenure. He said the renaming is emblematic of Horgan's willingness to consider the broader interests of the province's residents, even when facing personally contentious decisions.