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

I am amazed at the arrogance of Taseko Mines.

According to a Dec. 15/09 article in the Williams Lake Tribune, the mining company is petitioning to dump one of the federal environmental review panel members, Nalaine Morin, because she holds the view that resource projects like the giant Prosperity mining development project proposed for the Nemiah Valley area of the Chilcotin, not go ahead without the support of the affected aboriginal community. As a tax-paying citizen of this country, I agree with Nalaine Morin. Anything else would be a travesty of justice.

I want someone like Naliane Morin representing my perspective on the federal review panel. Taseko Mine should not be allowed to go ahead with this project without the agreement and consent of the Xeni Gwet’in and Tsilhqot’in aboriginal governments. Period. Don’t forget, the Xeni Gwet’in and Tsilhqot’in governments are duly, democratically elected, recognized governmental bodies given a mandate to represent their electorate. As a proud Canadian I would expect nothing less than the federal government insisting that the local aboriginal community be on board with any large scale resource development project in their traditional territory. What is rocket science about that? That’s basic human rights, justice and respect that all Canadians should insist on.

Taseko Mine’s attempt to get rid of Nalaine Morin because of her views, is bullying at best, and belies an attitude of contempt toward democracy and rejection of meaningful inclusion of the resident aboriginal community in coming up with a resource development plan everyone can live with. Without the agreement of the aboriginal community the Prosperity project can’t go ahead. Period. That’s my view.

Citizens of Williams Lake who want the mine to happen should insist that Taseko Mine figure out a way of getting the Xeni Gwet’in and Tsilhqot’in back on board as co-developers, instead of doing an end-run around them and the federal government.   

Sage Birchwater
Williams Lake, BC

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