Wasn't the mining industry recently advocating for the elimination of the Federal review process due to the fact that it was redundant, a duplication of efforts, not needed because of the extensive Provincial review process, etc? Doesn't appear to be the case here.

I wonder how it is that the Province can find no issues, yet the Feds can? Given that the Feds have less at stake when it comes to the economics of the mine and given that economics can have a huge political impact on the will if a government to approve a project, I personally tend to have more faith in the Federal review. To me, this shows that perhaps the two review process is needed.

Oh my what to do,move to plan B or not move at all. This project has been under review since 1990 and went through more study s and red tape than most projects, 20 years later NO. Thats what you get from allowing career bureaucrats to run the system and in the end their accountable to no one.

Hey Pat...no means no!
And besides, I seriously doubt Pat Bell will still be around when if and when an alternative plan is drafted.
Unless of course,he knows something the rest of us don't?

I agree NMG.
I wouldn't want to see the environmental process left in the hands of the provincial government,especially the one we have now.
The fact that the present B.C.government supported this farce is a damn good example why!
Anyone who wants to see what happens when a mine uses a lake or wetlands for a tailing pond,only needs to take a look at Logan Lake.
That mess will never be cleaned up!
We need mining and we need jobs,but there is a line.
Dumping tailings in a lake is crossing it.

AWESOME!!!!!!! That lake is one of the best I have ever taken my children to for fishing and camping, the area is beautiful. I was sad the day the provincial Gov approved the mine, way to go Feds.... At least that eco system is safe for now.
I am one happy man tonight....(o:

So sportsman did you walk there.

The Feds and the province were talking about streamlining or eliminating one or the other. I think the right process, is for it to be done simultaneously.

"...Pat Bell, says he hopes to meet with the Federal Minister of the Environment soon to discuss alternate proposals for this mine."

If the mining company can not find a way to dispose of the tailings in an environmentally correct way - it must wait until such a way is found!

Andy, Pat is a very hard working MLA. I had dealings with him on two occasions and he impressed me a lot. Can't say that for another one who hardly bothered to listen for more than a minute or two and then hastily excused herself to run for cover.

Considering the geographics in the area where the Prosperity mine will be located, PrinceGeorge,it is always going to be surrounded by environmental issues, and with good reason.
I am very suprised that the provincial government supported it at all,but they did.
What is disturbing is that the government was in fact willing to let it go ahead, pretty much as is.
This is a mine that was killed before it got started and with good reason.
In my opinion,it should stay dead.
It does make me wonder who's best interests Pat Bell and his government are looking after.
I am all in favour of mining as a viable resourse,but in some cases, they are a very bad idea.
Seems this is one of those cases and it will be interesting to see where this goes.

Just heard the mayor of Williams Lake on the radio, being very upset and demanding meetings so that alternate proposals for the mine will be explored to make sure that the mine can go ahead after all.

The government is in favour of development of resources. Still, it is surprising that it went along with this bad idea. The company dangled the carrot that it would create (!) another lake in a location not too far away in order to replace the one it was going to destroy with the tailings.

Which of course begs the obvious question: Why does the company not create the other lake first, fill it up with mine tailings and leave Fish Lake unspoiled???

A very good question indeed,PrinceGeorge!
Nobody,including the provincial government, seems to want to answer that one!

What Pat Bell has done or not done,isn't really the point.
He too has consistantly ignored the people who voted for him in his riding.
They told him no HST.
He ignored that,just like his cohorts.
And when the anti-HST petition was successful,he too said nothing when his government and his leader screwed it around to buy time.
This was a major issue, and he chose to ignore his constituents.
In the end,he will pay the same price as the rest of them, regardless of what he may have done.