News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Editor:

When I heard about the judge’s ruling that the First Nations and the BC government have 90 days to complete consultation on the Prosperity, I thought it was a wise choice.

The TNG refused repeatedly to consult with Taseko and with the BC government. Taseko and the government tried and tried to consult—once they set up a meeting at the 108 and the TNG backed out with no explanation.

I’ve spoken to both Brian Battison and Russ Halbauer at Taseko. They said they’ve tried everything to get the First Nations to talk and they just won’t.  I don’t know why they refuse to talk—they will only send out press releases—they won’t even talk to me.

They’re not being proactive—they’re just reacting. They sound like a bunch of kids who got their candy taken away from them. I know they want to know what I’m thinking, but they don’t have the intestinal fortitude to ask me outright.

Taseko paid money to TNG a few years ago to come to the table and talk. The First Nations started bringing lawyers to every meeting, which I disagreed with from the beginning, and Taseko pulled the money.

Taseko offered to pay for the First Nations bio-mass power project at the mill site and string the power lines from Soda Creek to the mill site, where TNG and Taseko could both use them, but the TNG said no. 

I’m not backing down from anybody and am willing to talk with anyone.

I want to tell the TNG straight out that what they’re doing is wrong. The chiefs have to start talking and not use propaganda.

This 90-day ruling should work: making the TNG sit down and consult with the BC government. The lifespan of Prosperity is 30 years: that’s jobs for a long time.

Logging is changing—Pioneer Log Homes has sold the logging end of their operation, Tolko is nervous, and West Fraser is fighting over timber out here.

This has nothing to do with politics for me—it has everything to do with jobs. I’m looking at the future of our people and the future of our grandchildren.

Ervin Charleyboy

In this exclusive video from November 9, 2011, former Alexis Creek Indian Band Chief, Ervin Charelyboy, came forward with his vote of support for the New Prosperity Mine Project

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