(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE THEY STAND

KAMLOOPS - There is a lot of information to sort through as we head into elections, so we decided to make the candidates answer a series of five questions as directly as possible, and in as few characters as possible.

Our first question is about the proposed Ajax Mine. Candidates were not given any direction on how to answer, other than it had to be in Twitter format, 140 characters or less, and in no more than a series of five ‘tweets’.

Every candidate responded except mayoral candidate Ben James and city council candidate Reo Rocheleau. Their unedited answers are in alphabetical order below.

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Pierre Filisetti: Economic diversification is smart growth. Such opportunistic resource exploitation proposal is opposite to smart growth; I am very concerned about the very long lasting legacy this project could bring upon our city; This proposal is as preposterous as Mr. Foghorn’s lake front property development idea for when the hole eventually fills with water

Peter Milobar: I have many of same concerns as the no to Ajax people have. Feel its important to get answers to concerns first.

Dallas Paisley: Ajax mine will use city #2 water. In turn using Ajax waste water is used in Lafarge concrete plant; I will apply for city to Annex mine; *No tailing ponds; Must water roads; Only operate 7 am to 7 PM noise bylaw

COUNCILLOR CANDIDATES

Nancy Bepple: I support the direction in place now & when I was on council: present concerns of residents to the mine, & have City staff participate in the environmental assessment; The decision on whether the mine proceeds is made by the Province. The City’s role is to make sure our residents’ concerns are heard, and that’s what’s being done; Once KGHM presents their report to the Province, then the City will be in position to say whether the concerns of residents have been adequately dealt with.

Donovan Cavers: The proposed Ajax mine comes with too many potential health and environmental risks...benefits are heavily outweighed by risks.

Ken Christian: Councillors have a higher duty of care and they should wait for the evidence and then make an evidence based decision

Nelly Dever: Continue collecting info from stakeholders-wait for enviro review-examine results carefully-communicate fully w Prov/Fed decision makers 

Bob Dieno: Let the Environmental Review go forward and be completed - Would be good for Jobs and City Tax Base if approved

Dieter Dudy: Potential risks far outweigh potential benefits. In the end I believe we will have ended up with less than we could have had without the mine.

Annette Glover: Health & Environment concerns and need to complete my research and obtain copies of all pertinent reports through to submission report before finalizing my decision.

Jenny Green: Concerned about the long term effects to human health, the environment and our local economy.

Brad Harrison: Ajax Mine will discourage other sustainable industries such as tourism, high-tech and green energy from moving to the Kamloops area.

Tanja Hasler: As Councillor I will consider all concerns about the project and ask critical questions to reach a balanced decision on behalf of residents.

Glenn Hilke: I'm opposed....not against all mining...but this one is too close to our homes and schools...why? 3 words Mount Polley Disaster

Peter Kerek: Costs and risks outweigh benefits. We know what open pit mining looks like. Maybe 23 years of operation & an eternity of catastrophic risk.

Tina Lange: I  like mining & jobs.  I like a healthy city reputation & clean air more Jobs r great but not at any cost

Dustin McIntyre: #kamloops shouldn't depend on a mine in city limits to boost our economy. We need high-tech & sustainable industry jobs not backyard mines

Andrew Miller: Kamloops has spent millions of dollars investing & branding itself, as the Tournament Capital of Canada. I believe the mine will destroy that…; The health impacts, the current and future environmental impacts and the loss of revenue for the city outweigh potential benefits…; We are leaving environmental assessment up to government body that was in charge of monitoring what was going on at Mt Polley.  Enough said!; The tailings pond at AJAX will be 4-5 times larger than Mount Polley & after seeing pictures of the devastation that is a very scary thought; Who will look after and monitor the land and the tailings pond after the mine is closed? Most likely the BC/Kamloops taxpayers. 

Daphane Nelson: Diversify economy through emerging industries and consider health and well-being of community

Mike O’Reilly: I believe in science and not speculation. Science MUST be completed first before taking any position. 

Andy Philpot: We must allow time for the review process to work, as council our job will be to ensure that our concerns have been positively addressed

Cheryl Phippen: The mine is not decided at municipal level. I will review the environmental assessment & make an evidence-based decision at that time. 

Alexandra Proctor: As CEO of a plastic-free grocery company www.madewithlove.ca -  I believe business and industry must lead the world by example. #AJAX; I imagine a future where we can & will mine the minerals we need without destroying our planet or my 4 children will no longer have one; I hear families asking for more jobs, more industry and economic growth. I understand 500 jobs as projected will effect our community. #AJAX; I walk my talk - my Sign-free, Politics - Without the Garbage Campaign, demonstrates my care and love for our environment #PROCTOR #AJAX; Due to it's proximity to 100 000 people, Ajax needs state of the art technologies for air & water quality to ensure health is not affected.

Peter Sharp: I support responsible exploration, mining and mineral processing industry in BC – and that includes right here in Kamloops

Arjun Singh: Commit 2 taking position after enviro applic submitted, early 2015. Waiting for fullest info from all sides to assess proposal. #ajax

Bernadette Siracky: I am waiting for environmental testing and assessment to be completed before commenting.?

Marg Spina: Decision when BC environmental process and all reports completed on Ajax

Glen Thompson: Ajax too close to the school KGHM will hire some local but when questioned would not rule out foreign temp workers Canadians should be hired

Pat Wallace: No application, accompanied w/ or w/out Environmental Standards, is available from Ajax. How does one come to a conclusion w/out solid info?; Continued development with people and jobs, the environment and sustainability, are my priorities.; Many knowledgeable ppl have spoken but there is nothing more black/white than application that spells out precisely what is applied for; Hopefully everyone can recognize the only power Council has is to comment one way or the other-it is not our decision.

Denis Walsh: It's too big , too close. I find it unacceptable that our current City Council has been so mute on the Ajax mine to date; This issue is really about what is Kamloops residents tolerance for risk. There are jobs & big risks; This project will change the face of our City and will impact long-term development and diversification.; The new Council must demand a greater voice in the process than the current Council has demonstrated.; When you play their game and wait for the studies, its game over. Just take a position... any position, and lets start talking about it.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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