First Nations Summit condemns Kemess North Mine

First Nations Summit condemns Kemess North Mine

Tom Fltrecher, Williams lake Tribune

19th January 2007

Energy projects aren't the only things facing delays in northern B.C.

As the premier was speaking in Prince George, the First Nations Summit issued a statement condemning the Kemess North copper and gold mine expansion project. Maurice Ethier, general manager of the Kemess South mine, thanked Campbell when he left the resource forum stage.

Mine officials learned at the beginning of the year that the federal and provincial governments have extended their environmental review for Kemess North, after the Gitxsan First Nation said it didn't have adequate time or resources to take part.

Kemess South will be mined out by next year, and 500 jobs and $150 million in economic activity for north-central B.C. depend on the Kemess North expansion. First Nations Summit executive Dave Porter called on the federal government to stop the project, which would use a remote lake as an acid rock tailings pond.

Porter and the First Nations Summit have been allies with Campbell in his new relationship efforts, but their view on this project is directly opposite to the premier's upbeat forecast for mineral development in B.C.