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THURSDAY, April 12, 2012
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
Arson suspected in park
VOL. 82. No. 29
$1.34 inc. HST
easter eggs a visual treat
Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer Over the long weekend the fire hall responded to eight calls, but nothing very serious, says fire chief Randy Isfeld. “We had a call for an assist at 150 Mile, but they had it under control by the time we got there so we turned around and came back to town. They had a grass fire that was inching its way towards a house. However, they had got there and secured the scene,” Isfeld says. See NO Page A3
Inside the Tribune NEWS Police search for suspect.
A2
SPORTS A11 Locals picked for BC Cup. COMMUNITY A22 Scout Island banquet April 20. Weather outlook: Rain today, high of 8 C. Cloudy/chance of showers Friday, high of 8 C.
Gaeil Farrar photo
Some cheerful soul with the Easter spirit hung this tree at the corner of Third Avenue and Oliver Street with colourful Easter eggs over the weekend, adding a little festive colour to a little tree that is only now beginning to show signs of spring life. Alisen Paynter and Vito Macchia, visiting friends here from the Okanagan, enjoyed the visual treat.
New Prosperity open houses to run Monday Erin Hitchcock Tribune Staff Writer Two public open houses on the New Prosperity mine will take place on Monday at the Gibraltar Room. The first will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., with a presentation to start it off. The second will take place from 7 to 9 p.m., beginning with a presentation. Brian Battison, vice president of corporate affairs for Taseko Mines Ltd., says there are three reasons the company will hold the open houses: to ensure that people have factual information; to help people understand what the new mine design looks like and for people to better understand the plans to pre-
serve Fish Lake; and for people to understand the potential value and benefits of the proposed project. He says that in addition to an overview of the project and how it can be built, people will be able to ask questions of Taseko staff who are familiar with the different aspects of the project. “For example, we will probably have five or six different stations to go to if you want,” Battison says, citing stations pertaining to economic benefits and community value; water and fish management; mining operations and infrastructure; reclamation, land use, terrestrial assessments; and respecting First Nations interests, for example. Battison says there will be six
representatives from Taseko at the open house, including four local people. He says there has been misinformation circulating about the project. “That is an unfortunate situation,” he says. “We want the public to have all of the information, all of the facts. That’s why we created that microsite (http://www.newprosperityproject.ca/ ) to get people to have all of the facts because it is a very important project.” An animated video on the project will also be shown at the open houses, which will also take place in 100 Mile House from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17 at the Valley Room in the 100 Mile Lodge Con-
ference Centre. “We need to engage with the public, consult with the public, and get them information, and this is one of the ways to do that,” he adds. Battison notes that the environmental review panel hearings are expected to be held in late summer/ early fall as well. “There are still no final terms of reference, and no panel, but we are expecting them (CEAA) to issue the final terms of reference for the panel and appoint the panel members, and we are expecting that to take place in April but we don’t know for sure.” A federal government decision on the project, he says, is expected late this year.