LandKeepers News Archive
Nak’azdli Court Action Called Regrettable
June 25 2009 | News Articles | 250 News
Nak’azdli Court Action Called Regrettable
By 250 News
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Prince George, B.C. – Terrane Metals V.P. Corporate Relations and Sustainability, Glen Wonders, says the court action launched by the Nak’azdli First Nation is “regrettable”.
Yesterday, the Nak’azdli filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court to stop the development of Terrane’s Mount Milligan Mine saying they had been promised government to government consultation with the Province before any approvals would be granted. The Band accuses the Province of reneging on that promise as Terrane Metals Corp has been given permits to start work at the mine site.
The province has already given the gold/copper mine project an environmental assessment certificate, and the Federal environmental assessment process is underway.
The Band has ordered Terrane to remove all equipment from the property.
Terrane’s Glen Wonders says he doesn’t see this move as a direct action against Terrane, rather, an issue that must be resolved between the Nak’azdli and the Province, however, he says Terrane will vacate the site if the issue cannot be resolved within the time frame given by the Nak’azdli “They have given us a couple of weeks” says Wonders.
When it comes to the issue of consultation, Wonders says it may come down to a Judge deciding if there has been proper and sufficient consultation. “We are continuing on with the environmental assessment process” says Wonders who remains optimistic the issues can be resolved “Hopefully, at some point in time, dialogue can improve between the Nak’azdli, the government and ourselves”.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Prince George City Council offered conditional support for the project which is expected to create 700 construction jobs and a further 400 jobs on site during the 15 year lifetime of the mine.
During his presentation to Council, Glen Wonders advised that the mine is on the treaty land of the McLeod Lake band, and discussions have been going on with others who are claiming title to that land. Wonders told Council establishing rights and title is not his job, “I can only guarantee that the door is open for discussion.”
The public comment period for the Mount Milligan mine project came to a close on the 23rd.
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