November 17, 2010
MP says old days of ramming mining projects ahead are over
By Rikki Schierer – Smithers Interior News
The Federal government rejected the Prosperity Mine proposal, as submitted, however they did give Mount Milligan the go ahead.
Jim Prentice, Environment Minister, said in a media statement that they weighed both projects carefully, particularly their environmental impacts.
“We believe in balancing resource stewardship with economic development,” he stated. “The Mount Milligan project has been designed in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment, while the significant adverse environmental effects of the Prosperity project cannot be justified as it is currently proposed.”
Prosperity Mine, near Williams Lake, was facing concerns regarding their proposal to turn Fish Lake into a tailings pond, was turned down, but the report released by the Federal Government didn’t state why.
Brian Battison, vice president of mine proponent Taseko Mines Ltd., says the company isn’t ready to give up quite yet.
“We want to try and find out what the decision was based on,” Battison says. “Once we find out and fully evaluate the reasons for their decision, then we can better evaluate the options if there are any options for us.”
It also shows that mining has evolved in today’s world, said MP Nathan Cullen, with the old days of ramming projects ahead despite what locals said are over.
“Companies who don’t wake up to that only suffer in the long run,” Cullen said.
The news that the Federal government shot down the Prosperity Mine shouldn’t be a concern to us in the Northwest, he said, because most of the companies are working very hard with the communities, with the First Nations.
“The general principles, though, that I think are still correct which is if you engage local people, if you respect First Nations’ rights of title, you will do well, if you don’t, you won’t,” Cullen said.
The Mount Milligan project going through is very positive for us, he said, not to mention the other projects spanning his riding, from Fort St. James through to Haida Gwaii.
“It’s an optimistic light on the horizon for us economically,” Cullen said. “Many of us are strategically placed for getting at those jobs, and companies are also looking to hire locally, which is critical.”
