The development of an open pit copper and gold mine near Fish Lake could cause environmental and economic hardship, local First Nations residents told a federal review panel this week.
A three-member Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency panel reviewing an application by Taseko Mines Ltd., to build the mine heard from community members at Xeni Gwet'in during the first of three weeks of meetings with First Nations. Among the concerns residents and local groups cited during the three days of hearings were worries around possible environmental contamination, the disruption of burial grounds, the impact of an electrical transmission line and what the development would mean for budding tourism operations around the proposed site.
"If the [New Prosperity project] mine proposal [is built] then our people will not want to practice hunting, fishing, gathering medicines and plants in the Teztan Biny, Nabas and surrounding area because of contamination," Lois William wrote on a slide during her multi-media presentation to the panel.
The Xeni Gwet'in economic development agency said 70 years worth of work developing tourism operations in the region could be lost if the mine is built.
"Cultural tours do not depend upon a forested corridor along a trail but on entire and intact watersheds," the agency wrote as part of its presentation.
Panel members spent Friday touring the Fish Lake site.
Meanwhile, Taseko emphasized the economic benefits of the mine and the company's Aboriginal policy during its presentation. The company said it's committed to helping local people get the training they need to work at the mine and encourages its suppliers to hire locally as well.
If approved the company would employ 700 people during the construction phase and 550 jobs when the mine is operational.
According to Taseko, the jobs will be needed to replace those lost in the forestry sector due to the mountain pine beetle infestation.
The company first sought government approval in 2010, but it was denied in part due to concerns about the impact on Fish Lake. Since then Taseko has revised its proposal to address those concerns.
After the First Nations community hearings wrap up panel members will return to Williams Lake to hear final arguments on Aug. 23. The panel will then prepare its report for the federal government.
