Letters & News

NEW PROSPERITY MINE REJECTION

Friends of Nemaiah Valley Media Release

Today the Minister of the Environment, Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, issued a decision statement regarding the New Prosperity Mine in British Columbia's Chilcotin district, concluding that “the New Prosperity Mine project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be mitigated. The Governor in Council (the cabinet) has determined that those effects are not justified in the circumstances; therefore the project may not proceed.”

We applaud the minister for making the correct decision.  The mine, standing at the headwaters of the Taseko, Chilko, Chilcotin and Fraser River systems would:
pose an unacceptable threat to one of the provinces greatest resources;
destroy fresh water lakes and contaminate others;
have severe impacts on some of the last, best grizzly bear habitat available to the endangered dryland interior grizzly population;
have effects on Tsilhqot'in culture that could not be mitigated.

The area in question has been identified by distinguished ethno-botanist Nancy Turner as a “cultural keystone place” of great spiritual and cultural significance to the Tsilhqot'in people. The courts of the land have entrenched aboriginal rights to the area sufficient to prevent destructive industrial projects like new Prosperity. Costly and lengthy court cases would have ensued should the mine have been approved.

This project has now been rejected for the third time, twice under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. There is no room for further applications for this wrong mine in the wrong place by the wrong proponent. Many years and many millions of dollars have already been wasted not only by the proponent and by government, but also by First Nations and many grass roots organizations who have stood against a well connected mining giant determined to have its way at any cost whether to the environment or to First Nations rights.

It is now time for the people of the Cariboo and Chilcotin to come together with First Nations to build an economy and a culture based on a new vision predicated on protection of the land waters and animals. Such a vision and economy, based on world class natural amenities, will be transformative for the communities of the Cariboo/Chilcotin, and can be a jewel in Canada's crown that is of global significance.

For more info please visit Friends of Nemaiah Valley www.fonv.ca

Posted by: Wolfgang Zilker Wednesday Feb 26, 2014 21:16
Categories: CEAA, First Nations, Prosperity Mine, Xeni Gwet'in | Tags: Environmental Assessment