A Roundabout Communications survey shows Kamloops residents are against the proposed Ajax Mine.
Image Credit: SOURCE/Roundabout Communications
April 03, 2013 - 8:05 AM
Residents overwhelmingly against proposed mine
By Jennifer Stahn
According to a recent survey most Kamloopsians want nothing to do with the proposed Ajax mine and have absolutely no desire to see the city-bordering mine go past the environmental assessment stage.
Chad Moats of Roundabout Communications and Consulting conducted the survey over a four-day period last week and logged more than 400 responses.
“The results of this survey show two camps on either end of the spectrum with very little room for compromise or discussion in the middle. With nearly three-quarters of Kamloops residents opposing the Ajax mine, even with approval from the environmental assessment panel,” Moats said.
The short survey asked six questions specific to the mine – as well as some demographic-based questions – and the results on every single question were overwhelming against the mine. More than 58 per cent of respondents want to see city council use every resource available to stop the mine while only 23 per cent were against the idea and 54.2 per cent agree that a referendum on the proposal should be held in Kamloops. Of the decided respondents, 74 per cent would not support the proposal if a referendum were to be held.
Even with the recent lay offs at Domtar, only 26.9 per cent feel the mine is needed and more than 60 per cent felt the health risks of the mine would outweigh the economic impact. Less than 20 per cent of respondents trust the current government to run a fair, independent and evidence based EA of the mine proposal.
Each question saw between 16 and 23 per cent of respondents choose the not sure/no opinion/don't care option.
To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call (250)819-3723.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013