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JANUARY 22, 2014
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Mill Girls Follies, a popular dancing group from Clinton, performed at the 14th Annual Cowboy Concert at Martin Exeter Hall in 100 Mile House on Jan. 18. Bernice Weihs-Anderson, left, Clare Werner, Sandi Burrage and Meghan Burrage took centre stage for this portion of the group’s performance.
McLeod promotes New Prosperity Mine project design dispute ‘concerning’ for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP
Carole Rooney Free Press
The proposed New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project was on the minds of some South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce members who attended a Jan. 15 luncheon where Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo MP Cathy McLeod was guest speaker. Local businessman Pat Corbett asked McLeod what timing she expected on the federal government’s decision on whether to allow the project to proceed to the permitting stage. “We just want to underscore the importance of it.” McLeod noted the issue now rests
with federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who is due to make her decision by the end of February. The final decision will be made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet. Expanding on that conversation in an interview the same day, McLeod said she has “always supported the important opportunity” and “economic benefit” of Taseko Mines Ltd.’s gold-copper project in the CaribooChilcotin. A report by Taseko that Natural Resources Canada used the wrong design in its analysis and, therefore, the federal assessment review panel relied on this incorrect information to draw conclusions in its report, dis-
turbs the MP. “I have concerns regarding the reports made by the proponent that there were some issues with the information, and that needs to get resolved in terms of the assessment and the information provided. “There has been work by both [Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris] and I to indicate we have concerns to both the Minister of Natural Resources [Joe Oliver] and the minister of environment regarding the concerns by the proponent.” McLeod noted she also told the ministers about the importance of the economic opportunity New Prosperity Mine offers to the region, particularly after closures of small
businesses and “soft cycles” in the forestry industry. “Obviously, anything that goes forward has to be done in an environmentally sound way, and I believe that open-pit copper mines in British Columbia, with appropriate regular oversight, can meet high standards.” The important points have been made to Aglukkaq and cabinet in advance of their pending decision, she added. “I hope the mine goes forward with the confidence of the people that it will be done in an environmentally sound way, and I hope the Aboriginal communities will recognize and benefit from the important opportunities from that mine.”