The Williams Lake Tribune reports that, “Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook will be amongst a delegation of local politicians going to Ottawa in an attempt to get answers regarding the rejection of Taseko’s Prosperity mine.”
“Cook, Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod, Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce officials and several business owners will meet with the federal minister of environment and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials at the end of this month in a bid to clarify the federal government’s decision to turn down the Prosperity mine proposal.”
“The meeting with federal officials was arranged by the local Chamber, according to president Walt Cobb, to find out why the project was rejected, and if there is a ‘window of opportunity’ to revise Taseko’s proposal. He says it is independent of any investigative work Taseko might be undertaking. He’s hopeful, given that John Baird, the new minister of environment, has agreed to a meeting — a change from the approach of the former minister who didn’t discuss the issue, Cobb says.”
Brian Battison, vice president of corporate affairs for Taseko Mines, has stated, “We’re still trying to determine if there’s a way forward for the project and that would include trying to figure out why it was rejected. Once we know precisely what the federal government is concerned about, is there a way to address that in a manner that doesn’t disrupt or unreasonably disrupt the provincial government approval of the project?”
The article concludes, “As for how much longer Taseko will pursue Prosperity, Battison says, it depends on a number of factors including: commodity prices, availability of capital, political and community support, and material costs for steel, fuel and energy.”
The full article is at http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/williamslaketribune/news/110569049.html.
