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Nisga’a in talks for mine money THE NISGA’A Lisims Government is in talks with the province for a share of the mineral taxes to come from Avanti Mining’s planned $1 billion molybdenum mine at Kitsault on the north coast. The talks follow similar agreements struck between the province and First Nations elsewhere in the province where mineral developments are located within traditional territories. Although the Kitsault project is not within Nisga’a lands set out in the Nisga’a Final Agreement it is within the area where the Nisga’a have an influence on development and where they have fishing rights. There’s no indication of how advanced the talks are or of their specific details. “The province is in the process of actively negotiating an [Economic Community Development Agreement] on Kitsault with the Nisga’a and looks forward to concluding the ECDA in the near future,” indicates a statement from the provincial aboriginal affairs and reconciliation ministry. The provincial policy of providing a portion of mineral tax revenues to First Nations dates back to 2008 with the goal that monies provided by use to finance health, education and other programs. In the north, the first such agreement was signed in the fall of 2010 with the Fort McLeod Band to provide it with mineral tax monies from the Mount Milligan copper and gold mine between Fort St. James and Mackenzie which opened last fall. Based on the agreement, the Fort McLeod
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Band could receive between $34 million and $38 million over the projected 23-year life of the mine. Also about to start are talks between the Nisga’a and Avanti itself for the latter to provide a share of revenues from the project. Commonly called impact benefits agreements, they can take the form of direct payments, contracts with First Nations companies, other financial assistance and even a share of the project itself. Avanti president Gordon Bogden, in the area last week for a series of meetings, said the company was about to sign a confidentiality agreement with the Nisga’a in advance of the negotiations. “We’re looking at them as partners – shared benefits – as we move forward,” he said. Citing the confidentiality aspect of striking what he referred to as a commercial arrangement, Bogden declined to provide further details. “We are very engaged, with the community [in the Nass Valley] and with the four [Nisga’a] villages,” he said. Nisga’a officials last week declined comment. But they have in the past said they’d pursue revenue sharing with the provincial government. Negotiations between the Nisga’a and the province and, soon, Avanti, follow legal moves taken by the Nisga’a opposing provincial environmental approval last spring of the mine project.
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Land sale halt wanted By ANNA KILLEN THE KITIMAT-STIKINE regional district wants the province to freeze the sale of crown land in Thornhill until it’s had a chance to review its land use plan. The plan hasn’t been reviewed since the early 1980s but with pressure growing for residential lots, regional district officials say they want a better understanding of development potential. It’s why the regional district board abstained, for the time being, from supporting a local developer’s application for a direct crown land sale from the province. “It wasn’t anything specifically against the application, but more of a ... hold on, let’s do some forward planning before the
Perseverance Former resident shows you can rise from the bottom of the heap \COMMUNITY B1
crown sells it,” said regional district planner Ted Pellegrino last week. The regional district now wants to look at how the land uses have changed, what the community needs, and what impacts development would have on water and sewer systems. The specific motion, which passed as recommended by the regional district’s planning committee April 25, dealt with the application by M&M Ventures to purchase and develop the 98-acre crown land parcel which runs alongside the Thornhill frontage road. Plans filed by the local company envision as many as 124 residential lots being placed on the property, phased in 30 at a time until 2020.
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ROD LINK PHOTO
■ Loggers’ memorial CHAINSAW CARVER J.J. Jung, left, and Bill McRae Jr. with a carving created by Jung. It was unveiled April 27 at Usk along with a memorial to those who have been killed while working in the forest industry. The memorial was the idea of McRae who then received numerous offers of support and assistance. For more, turn to Page A5.
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Prospect The Kelowna Rockets are keen on Terrace hockey player Nick Nordstrom \SPORTS A16