SO1 Programs to Address Impacts of Operations on Communities

BC Hydro has a Social Responsibility Policy which guides BC Hydro's community engagement related to impacts created from the organization's development, operations, and exiting. A key part of BC Hydro's engagement process is focused through community relations, stakeholder engagement and First Nations engagement. In parallel, the Environmental Responsibility Policy provides guidance to the staff to proactively anticipate and avoid, where possible, environmental issues and impacts caused by BC Hydro operations.

Specific management approaches or programs that reflect BC Hydro's fulfillment of this policy includes:

• The community investment program which supports our communities through a number of sponsorship, donation and scholarship programs for groups and individuals across the province that are active in one of our key areas: environmental sustainability, youth education and community leadership.
• The commitment to obtain the Caring Company designation from Imagine Canada. It designates that BC Hydro commits a minimum of one per cent of pre-tax domestic profit to charities and non-profit organizations.
• The 'Voices of our Customers' program designed to create multiple connection points to understand our customers' issues, concerns, and satisfaction with our service. BC Hydro has created social media avenues to proactively engage with customers and stakeholders to reach us on issues important to them, and to learn about our programs and activities (i.e. Power Smart).
• Ongoing and proactive public consultation and stakeholder relations which allow BC Hydro to stay connected to the groups and individuals who are affected by or are interested in our transmission and generation projects and our business in general.
• Participation in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program, developed as a benchmarking tool by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) to help Canadian business organizations gauge and improve their commitment to progressive relationships with First Nations and aboriginal communities, businesses and people.
• The implementation of our water licensing requirements program which sought through water use plans on every watershed to find a better balance between competing uses of water such as domestic water supply, fish and wildlife, recreation, heritage and electrical power needs, that are environmentally, socially and economically acceptable to British Columbians.
• The ongoing implementation of our province-wide compensation programs which, in partnership with communities and regulatory agencies, serve to compensate for the impacts to fish and wildlife caused by the creation of historic hydroelectric operations.