T h ursda y , F eb r u a r y 1 1 , 2010
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
$1 ( inc lude s GS T)
Good luck Emily!
Show your support Display this window poster Pages 16 - 17 Throne speech
Flathead mining ban No oil, gas, coal or mineral extraction By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
M
ining and drilling for oil, gas, coal and minerals will be banned in the Flathead River drainage, under a provincial regulation announced in Tuesday’s throne speech in Victoria. MLA Bill Bennett told The Free Press that an order in council will be made this week by the B.C. cabinet ministers to remove mining or drilling of any kind from the allowed land uses of B.C’s Flathead River drainage basin, effective immediately. “We will put a strict moratorium over the whole valley, there will be no coal, oil or gas,” he said. “We will be facing an issue of compensation for the mining claims that are in there – we know that and we know we have to deal with that. “The victory here is two-fold – we will be able to manage the
valley the way it has been managed over the last 70 years. “The second part is that we are not going to get a national park. One of the main reasons people didn’t want the park is they believe that we have done a good job managing the valley to this point – and I think they’re right. “I think this is a victory for the people who want to take a middle way. It’s true they don’t support mining in the Flathead but they also don’t support putting it into a park – they want to continue using it the way their parents did, they want continued outfitting and logging jobs.” The ban on oil, gas and coal bed methane will be implemented under the Southern Rockies Management Plan, which controls use of Crown Lands, and will be effective immediately. The throne speech also pledged to forge a partnership
with Montana to sustain current forestry and recreational activities. Bennett said he has spent two years working for this result and credited premier Gordon Campbell for backing a “difficult” proposal for the Liberal government. He admitted he once believed mining in the Flathead was supported, but changed his mind after consulting a group of local loggers, hunters, anglers and guides. “In 2005 before the election I called a meeting of a group of locals at Sparwood Library. “I told them I thought the Flathead was going to become my most controversial issue and asked what do you want your MLA to say on this. “They all said they didn’t want mines in the Flathead, they want to keep it the same. “I believe the vast majority of people in the riding feel the same.”
Mining ban reactions: Pages 2 - 5 What do you think of the mining ban? Email freepress@shawcable.com or call 250-423-4666
Oil, gas and coal mining and drilling will be banned in the Flathead Valley, the province announced this week. Photo by Garth Lenz/iLCP