Nak’azdli Sign Mount Milligan Deal
Prince George, B.C. – The Nak’azdli First Nation has signed an economic development agreement with the Province which will see the Nak’azdli receive a share of the mineral tax from the Mount Milligan Mine.
That share is expected to be about $24 million dollars over the life of the mine.
"This is the beginning of a relationship between Nak’azdli and the province of British Columbia" says Nak’azdli Chief Fred Sam.
This economic development agreement is a major accomplishment says Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, Pat Bell, “Even with one of the more challenging negotiations we’ve had, we were able to find a way to reach an agreement with the Nak’azdli.”
Bell says there are lessons to be learned from this negotiation that can be applied to other projects “There is a real important message for the mining industry globally, and that is, if you have a project in British Columbia, we will work as hard as we need to, to get to a place where we can get an agreement with the local First Nations to provide the level of certainty that is necessary.”
Bell says it is important for people to realize that mining companies will spend billions of dollars before they are able to extract one ounce of ore. “It is a massively risky venture and to now be able to see sign off on it, I think sends a positive signal not just for this project but for other projects across Northern B.C.”
Bell says that doesn’t mean he is lumping the hotly contested Enbridge twin pipeline project in that statement as the Province has decided to wait for the results of the environmental review before taking a stand on that proposed project. “What I am talking about, is projects like Prosperity as an example and other mining projects, Kemess North is one that comes to mind as being a project that has some potential legs to it.”
Bell says the agreement with the Nak’azdli will “put some spring in people’s step to help them to push hard to the finish line.”
Comments
There are times when being a pick-up truck salesperson can be good. You just have to wait.
If the Nak’azdli get $24 Million of the tax, does this mean that the Government and therefore the taxpayers of BC are short $24 Million. Why would their portion come out of the Government tax. Why wouldnt Mount Milligan pick up part of the cost, they stand to make hundreds of millions on this project.
I suppose down the road we will get some sort of tax increase to make up for what the Government is losing in taxes.
Excellent! Very good on Na’kazdli!
Ironic, Taxed Out is celebrating tax money wasted. Did I miss the sarcasm icon?
Bell is right that these projects need agreements that allow all parties to move forward with known variables. If we are to treat first nations as a form of government, the money should come from other governments. Throwing another cost on these very risky develpoments will hinder furthur projects. The north needs more projects to move forward as fibre supply drops.
How long will the signature be good for? Three months, six months? before they change their minds?
No sarcasm Albus, tax money wasted is money sent to Victoria for the BC Liberals to waste. Not sure if you remember Albus it was a few years ago 2009, that the BC Liberals set a record for the largest deficit ever by a BC government of $2.4 Billion. Giving this tax money to the people of Nak’azdli cannot possibly mismanage it to the degree of our BC Liberals. What we need is more citizens of British Columbia to find a way of keeping tax money out of the hands of the BC Liberals. I am sure it will be managed, mismanaged, spent, to a better degree than the clowns in Victoria.
As always with these deals a handful of native leaders will benefit the rest will get chicken feed. Look at Alberta and Natives their they share in the oil make millions and still no, medical, no housing, no schools,poor water but they draw in millions each year…. bad joke on BC tax payer
Don’t lump all First Nations together. Some bands actually have trusts set up for future generations and infastructure!
Unlike the $2.4 Billion deficit legacy funds the BC Liberals leave for future generations and infrastructure!
4 billion a year for entitlement programs! Could easily have a surplus if people were held accountable instead of relying on taxpayers!
Do you mean entitlements like MLA salaries and pension benefits that continue to rise?
I have no problem with their pay. Walk a mile in their shoes before you speak of what you don’t understand. All the MLA wages would run the entitlement programs for about 6 hours.
I have no problem with their pay. Walk a mile in their shoes before you speak of what you don’t understand. All the MLA wages would run the entitlement programs for about 6 hours.
Why were my comments removed?
You shouldn’t have to ask!
Well why cause i was right?
Probably only in “your” mind, I guess.
fred sam is a child molester his records prove that!!!
And?
Listened to an interview with one of the Sams and the CBC this morning! I heard a lot of half truths and outright lies. The interviewer should have researched this a little closer as a few proper questions could have caught her lying. Yikes thats bad reporting!
ya hes a liar
She I meant sorry
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