We end up with no simple answer --- but that should be no surprise

The Common Sense Canadian website, which I think most would agree has opinions leaning more to the left, has added a new feature called “Your Voice”.  It’s an opinion / editorial (op-ed) blog for the environment and public interest.

“Why Culture Matters: Prosperity Mine's Impacts on the People and Land of the Nemaiah Valley” by David Williams (a member of Friends of Nemaiah Valley) is the first op-ed piece to be shared in it.  After reading it, there were a couple of comments which I added.  First though, here are the words of David Williams about the Prosperity Mine, which is proposed for the Chilcotin region of British Columbia.

Earlier this week, we at Friends of the Nemaiah Valley (FONV) heard that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has agreed to conduct an environmental assessment of Taseko Mines Ltd. (TML) proposed “New Prosperity” mine application in Tsilhqot'in territory.

This unfortunate decision is misguided for many reasons. This is the third try by TML to develop this mine, one of the largest gold/copper deposits in British Columbia. It was turned down twice in the recent past because the environmental consequences would be too great. Even by Taseko's own admission during hearings last year, this “tweaked” proposal, then known as Option II, would have even worse environmental consequences than the one rejected by the federal government.

While there are environmental reasons to reject this mine – it is in prime grizzly habitat, will destroy a large rainbow trout population, and threatens large salmon runs that are part of the Fraser River fishery – it is the impact it will have on the local Xeni Gwet'in community in the Nemaiah Valley that I want to focus on.

Picture a “camp” of up to 600 miners placed into a remote First Nations Community that is still largely dependent upon the land for sustenance and identity. This camp will be in place for up to 35 years.  250 Xeni Gwet'in, the People of the Rivers, live in the Nemaiah Valley alongside a small settler community of about fifty people. The latter operate small ranches, run wilderness lodges, fish, hunt and trap, and just like the way of life that prevails here.

It's pretty easy to say that, when you don't understand the connections between that economic opportunity, and your family

Is it just me, or is anyone else confused about where the BC Liberal government stands on job creation, environmental issues, and how those things impact BC families and jobs.

Three weeks ago Christy Clark spoke to the Canada West Foundation, and she said to them:

"It is easy for people to be against things. Easy for people to say: 'You know, we should just cut down fewer trees in B.C. We should just have fewer mines. Maybe we shouldn't have all this oil and gas development .... Maybe we shouldn't be disturbing the Earth.' "It's pretty easy to say that when you don't understand the connections between that economic opportunity and your family."

Christy Clark weighs in on Prosperity Mine project

First things first --- I support the Prosperity Mine project, and thought it insane when it was reported the federal government was using the environment as the excuse for not approving the go-ahead of the mine.  

There was no issue with fish and fish habitat -- Fish Lake is a hole in the ground filled with water that supports fish.  The mine said they needed the current lake area for the mine, and would create a new lake.  I personally don’t see that as a big deal.  I believe however that the federal government took the cowards way out on an issue they knew was going to cause huge problems with some in the First Nations community. (Read the Summary of Panel's Conclusions HERE and then tell me why it didn't go ahead)

That said the decision was made several months ago, and now the folks at Taseko Mines are looking at new ways to try and make the Prosperity Mine a reality by coming up with changes to meet the environmental concerns that were raised. 

So with the initial decision in, why would anyone want to go stir up the pot and mess things up, while Taseko / Prosperity are working on new ways to get the mine approved?  Seems to me the logical thing would be to let that play out, and then if the answer is still “no”, then everyone will have a pretty clear indication why.