(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
December 09, 2015 - 4:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - A mining industry watchdog has come to Kamloops to speak with concerned groups about the proposed Ajax Mine.
MiningWatch Canada does the majority of its work in the country’s largest mining provinces, program coordinator Ugo Lapointe says, pointing to Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
“We’re interested in mining issues in B.C. connected with some of the communities affected by key mining projects. Ajax is one of those,” Lapointe says.
He says his organization is not against mining or resource extraction. MiningWatch is instead concerned with proper mining practices, the environment and human health.
While in Kamloops Lapointe will meet today, Dec. 9, with both the Tk’emlúps and Skeetchestn bands to discuss their concerns about the Ajax project.
The Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation recently declared land title on Jacko Lake and surrounding area. These lands are part of the proposed mine.
This evening he will meet with the Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment, which is part of a local anti-Ajax coalition.
“They invited us to come, to share some of the information and knowledge we have about the mining issues elsewhere in Canada,” Lapointe says of the coalition.
While he is in town meeting with concerned groups this week, he is ‘absolutely open’ to hosting a public event for Kamloops residents, he says, noting he intends to return to Kamloops in the spring. Lapointe says in the meantime he encourages anyone to contact MiningWatch with their questions and concerns of the Ajax Mining project.
KGHM’s environmental application requirements package was recently declared complete by the B.C. government. The company plans to submit the application in its entirety early in 2016, which will move the proposed mine into the review and public input stage.
If approved, the proposed open-pit copper and gold mine will operate just southwest of Kamloops.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015