Taskeo Mines Ltd. said Thursday that a total of 65 jobs will be eliminated because the federal government rejected the company's proposed $800-million Prosperity gold mine.
"This represents the unfortunate impact of the federal decision," said Taseko president and CEO Russell Hallbauer.
"We have initiated discussions with the federal and provincial governments to identify how we might advance the project and eventually provide the economic benefits including significant employment to the region," said Hallbauer.
The federal government rejected the project near Williams Lake, south of Prince George, over significant environmental impacts identified in a panel review.
A federal review panel concluded there would be significant adverse environmental effects from the Prosperity mine on fish and fish habitat, traditional First Nations use and on potential or established Aboriginal rights or title.
The most contentious issue surrounding the project was the use of 121-hectare Fish Lake to store mining waste, which a federal panel estimated would destroy 90,000 rainbow trout.
With a decision initially expected in September on Prosperity, provincial and national First Nations groups had banded together to demand the federal government reject the proposed Prosperity mine.
Business and industry interests had said that a rejection of the Prosperity project would chase away investment.
Taseko had said the project would create 500 direct jobs, another 1,200 indirect jobs during a 20-year period.
The local, regional and provincial economies will also benefit from spending and taxes, said the company.
