If the B.C. Chamber of Commerce is so ardently supportive of the New Prosperity mine, why don’t they go to the Cariboo to support it?
The chamber came out in favour of the mine by staging a news conference — in downtown Vancouver. It looked a bit patronizing for the chamber to extend its blessing, but require all the people who need that blessing to make the trip all the way to Vancouver in order to get it.
The reason, of course, is that it was a straight media play, aimed at influencing the course of events in Ottawa where the eventual call on the mine will be made. So supporters of the project from Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House trooped down to Vancouver to receive the backing that was offered.
It’s the second time through the hoops for the project, and the first one went very awkwardly. In fact, there have been a few awkward moments when it comes to mining policy in B.C., and it’s taking some time to smooth them out.
Prosperity’s first trip through the approval process a few years ago resulted in an absurdity. B.C. approved the proposed mine southwest of Williams Lake but Ottawa rejected it, because the original plan involved destroying a small lake.
That left the province exposed to criticism of its laissez-faire approach. B.C. Liberals ignored that and concentrated on lobbying Ottawa to change its mind. Eventually, Taseko, the proponent, redesigned the application to preserve the lake and refiled it, as New Prosperity.
It’s the upcoming decision on that application that the chamber of commerce was rallying about this week.
If little Fish Lake was the only stopper, then New Prosperity looks like a go. But First Nations politics could be a factor as well. Nearby bands oppose the mine, so part of the press conference was designed to show that opposition is not unanimous.
Former Alexis Creek First Nation chief Ervin Charleyboy unabashedly supported the mine. He served 20 years as chief and started out totally opposed to the proposal. But he said he took a closer look and decided the future of native young people in the region would be much better with the mine.
With a major falldown in the forest industry due to the beetle kill looming, the Cariboo is looking for alternatives.
“What do we have after forestry?” asked Charleyboy. “We have nothing.”
Mining could fill some of the gap, but First Nations leaders are balking at the mine for what Charleyboy said are unsound reasons. They aren’t consulting with people because they are afraid they’d find many natives support the idea. Those who do are too intimidated to speak out.
Charleyboy said he’s unpopular among the chiefs for his support, but it doesn’t bother him.
“The other chiefs are mad, but what the hell. Stay mad. I don’t care.”
The other awkwardness on the mining front grew even more pronounced this week, after the B.C. Supreme Court ordered a redo of last year’s startling decision against another mine, the Morrison copper-gold project near Smithers.
B.C.’s environmental assessment office did an exhaustive review of that Pacific Booker Minerals project and wrote a 200-page conclusion that all concerns had been addressed and the mine proposal did not have the potential for significant adverse effects.
But when the then-executive director submitted that report to cabinet for a decision, he included a number of additional environmental worries and recommended against approval.
The two cabinet ministers required to make the call — Rich Coleman and Terry Lake — endorsed his view and turned thumbs down, prompting the company to go to court.
This week, the judge ruled the process didn’t meet the test of procedural fairness. He ordered the government to back up and do it over, and this time provide Pacific Booker a chance to respond to the additional concerns from the executive director.
Energy Minister Bill Bennett was scheduled to spend today lobbying federal cabinet ministers to support the New Prosperity mine. He’d have an easier day if ministers don’t check that judgment out and ask him how his own government is doing when it comes to dealing with mine ventures.
