New Prosperity Extension Creates Bad Blood
Williams Lake, B.C. – To say Tsilhqot’in Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse was upset when the provincial government decided to extend the New Prosperity Mine environmental assessment certificate would be an understatement.
“As far as I’m concerned it’s an illegal act.We’ve gone to the Supreme Court of Canada and are the only First Nations in all of Canada that have proven title.”
He adds it shows that current talks regarding the future of the mine between his people and the provincial government are “meaningless.”
Moving forward Alphonse says the Tsilhqot’in National Government will have to “go back to the drawing board” and determine what their next steps will be.
“It’s not acceptable to us and this company (Taseko Mines) has been very disrespectful to First Nations and the Tsilqot’in way of life and what we value and appreciate. We would never allow this company any access (to our land) under any circumstances.”
Taseko’s certificate has been extended until January 14, 2020. The mine has been rejected twice by independent review panels, mostly on environmental grounds in 2010 and 2014.
Comments
Will give them jobs. Why are they complaining? Oh yes. Many do not want to work.
Racist comments like the above (DPJ) aren’t helpful. We’re all here to stay and we need to get along and make a living.
Perhaps it’s worth noting that the site of the proposed mine is outside the aboriginal title area. Also of note, Taseko Mines shares have lost 60% of their value in the last six months as the price of copper has drifted down. This company is looking more like a takeover target than a developer of new mines.
CL
I would look at the definition of racism before calling me a racist. If you look at the many blockades in BC in the last few years and see who blockades them, looks like first nations on welfare are the ones on the front lines. If it were caucasions, I would say its caucasions on welfare doing it. Please wake up and open your eyes to see what is happenning around you and who is restricting development in northern BC.
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