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Tl’etinqox chief Alphonse vows to continue fighting Prosperity project
April 24 2009 | News Articles | Williams Lake Tribune
Tl’etinqox chief Alphonse vows to continue fighting Prosperity project
By Erin Hitchcock – Williams Lake Tribune
Published: April 24, 2009
Tl’etinqox (Anaham) chief Joe Alphonse says it’s “ludicrous” that the federal Prosperity review panel will not recommend a 90-day extension of its public comment period of the Prosperity Mine project as requested by the Tsilhqot’in National Government.
“To deny that is so typical of British Columbia and Canada,” he says. “That doesn’t give us any time to hire anyone to look at the review. In a snapshot, for people involved, this is how we are treated.”
The TNG had requested an extension to the current 60-day comment period that began March 26 since it hasn’t yet received the $300,000 in participant funding that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced it would be getting.
“That’s how funding works when you’re dealing with federal and provincial governments with the First Nations, and it doesn’t make any sense at all,” Alphonse says.
In a letter dated Wednesday to TNG mining co-ordinator Loretta Williams, panel chair Robert Connelly notes the federal minister of environment would have to approve the extension, and the panel will not recommend he do so.
Connelly notes that the TNG has had previous opportunities to review Taseko Mines Limited’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the mine, 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake.
As of Wednesday, the agreement for $300,000 in participant funding from the CEAA had not been concluded.
Alphonse says that while money is going to the First Nations to be involved in the process, he says that money isn’t being distributed “until the process is done and is complete.”
“That’s bad business to go spend money when you don’t have an actual signed contract,” Alphonse says.
Connelly writes “a sufficient commitment of awarding of funds was made by the Agency on March 3, 2009,” and that the contribution agreement allows for reimbursement of expenses retroactively to Oct. 23, 2008.”
He writes the panel is not restricted in considering comments that may be received after May 25, the last day of the current 60-day public comment period, because the panel has to determine whether the EIS is sufficient to proceed to hearings within 30 days — June 24 — or whether Taseko needs to provide more information.
“Stay tuned. It’s not over,” Alphonse says.
“This is their (Taseko’s) government working at it, and this is their government that’s creating a happier environment for big industry, and we have to do what we have to do to protect our interests, and we ain’t letting this go.
“It’s going to keep me in office for a long time. As long as my people feel that I am doing stuff to advance their issues and create a whole bunch of noise, then good, I’ll continue to get re-elected and I’ll continue to live a good life, fighting Taseko Mines.”
http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/williamslaketribune/news/43602492.html
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