OK, but what benefit is an Alaska-Canadian link for BC and Canada?

Canada and British Columbia have taken the giant steps necessary for a potential interconnection to Alaska.  Canada and BC benefit in a number of ways.

First, an interconnection to Alaska brings a measure of insurance to BC rate-payers whom presumably are making this investment.  BC Hydro had a power-line project built years ago, but after it was completed the mine which it was to serve closed due to the volatility of mineral prices.  The province and rate-ratepayers were stuck with a cost that yielded no benefit.  Having an interconnection to Alaska ensures there will be a payback on the investment regardless of the status of loads in Northwest BC.

Second, interconnection to other generation sources such as Wrangell  and Petersburg's Tyee Lake Hydro lends stability to an otherwise radial power-line extension.  Electrical energy behaves better when it is connected to other generating sources.  So, such an interconnection benefits the proposed Northwest Transmission Line (NTL)

Such an interconnection makes power projects and commercial development in Northwest BC more sustainable.  Having another sources of energy in the region adds to the reliability of commercial enterprise in the Northwest BC region of Canada.