Karunananthan and Tsilhqot’in National Government mining co-ordinator Loretta Williams take part in a march and rally in Williams Lake on World Water Day, March 22, 2010.
Today, a Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency federal review panel announced the groups and individuals accepted to have ‘interested party status’ in the upcoming hearings on the ‘New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project’ at Fish Lake.
Among the groups accepted – the Council of Canadians Williams Lake Chapter.
Their letter notes, “The Council of Canadians is a public interest advocacy organization that promotes environmental and social justice in Canada and abroad. The Council has over 25 years of experience working with communities to protect water resources. The Council of Canadians’ chapter in Williams Lake comprises members who live in the area and have been actively engaged in social and environmental issues in the community. In particular, the Council of Canadians raises issues around water justice, human right to water, environmental justice, and the impacts of climate change and regional water security.”
And the panel states in their letter, “The Panel will establish the schedule and location for the different hearing sessions at a later date. The Panel will also explain how to register for specific sessions at that time.”
In March 2010, Council of Canadians water campaigner Meera Karunananthan, BC-Yukon organizer Harjap Grewal and Williams Lake chapter activist John Dressler called on the first federal review panel at a hearing in Williams Lake to reject the ‘Prosperity’ proposal.
The Council of Canadians campaign web-page in defence of Teztan Biny/ Fish Lake can be read at http://canadians.org/water/issues/TIAs/teztan-biny.html.
