Supporters of the proposed New Prosperity copper and gold mine near Williams Lake are descending on Ottawa today to make their case for the project.
Cariboo South Liberal MLA Donna Barnett and Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook are part of a 10-person delegation who will meet with federal politicians to make the case for why the mine should be approved.
"We decided the opposition is so out there and so listened to, it's time our small group get together and deliver a positive message about what this project can do for the community," said Len Doucette, a businessman from 100 Mile House and a Say Yes to Prosperity leader who is part of the pro-mine group in the nation's capital.
Taseko is seeking permission to build the open pit mine near Fish Lake, but received a setback last fall when a Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency panel ruled that the mine would pose significant adverse effects to fish and fish habitat, as well as traditional aboriginal use of the region.
The mining company is challenging that finding in federal court at the same time as federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq is preparing to deliver a recommendation to her cabinet colleagues in the coming weeks.
Taseko believes the review panel erred in its final report because it was relying on a flawed analysis of seepage rates from Natural Resources Canada.
Opponents of the mine, including the Tsilhqot'in National Government, have cited the review panel's conclusions as reasons why the project should not be built and have vowed to fight the project should it be approved. Taseko's first application was also rejected by a review panel and the federal government in 2010, but the company came back with a new design last year.
Doucette believes the new design is appropriate and that Fish Lake's ecosystem can be maintained even with the mine nearby.
"We want to deliver the message that the project is environmentally sound, Taseko has promised to spend an additional $300 million to make sure Fish Lake is saved," he said. "We believe that [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper should approve this project with the condition that Fish Lake is saved."
The group will meet with Aglukkaq's parliamentary secretary Eve Adams, regional MPs Dick Harris and Cathy McLeod and other federal officials to spread the word. Their trip comes a couple weeks after provincial Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett went to Ottawa with a similar message.
Mine proponents trumpet the jobs New Prosperity would create and the impact that would have on the local economy.
"What that would do for our community would be astounding," Doucette said. "It would be silly to no to a project like this."
He added the group didn't receive any outside funding to cover their travel and accommodation costs.
"It's coming out of our own personal jeans," Doucette said.
