Northern Connector, September 05, 2014

Page 1

Inside FALL RECREATION REGISTRATION STARTS TOMORROW! Saturday September 6

u NEWS Teachers remain firm, P. 2 u NEWS RCMP seek assistance, P. 4

u SPORTS Kitimat trio compete at NAIG, P. 26-27 u CLASSIFIEDS, P. 17-24

Free FRIDAY, September 5, 2014

Volume 9 Issue 9

TMC 20,700

Schools behind picket lines …

10 am at Riverlodge For more information call RIVERLODGE at 250-632-8970

www.kitimat.ca

Swim Lessons • Preschool • Youth • Fitness Lifestyle • Special Interest Workshops • Rentals

K

I

T

I

M

A

Sentinel

T

Northern

PRINCE RUPERT

MARGARET SPEIRS / THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR

TERRACE - Caledonia Senior Secondary school teachers Leanne Korving, Kelly Axelson and Patsy Chant, left to right, walk the picket lines outside the school the morning of Sept. 2. It was to have been the first official day of the new school year but a continuing contract dispute between teachers and public school districts means schools remain closed.

Working Together... ...Better!

→ ANY GLASS, ANY VEHICLE 250-635-4466

speedyglass.ca

Tailings review ends mine blockade

By Josh Massey

THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR

TERRACE - A blockade by a group of Tahltan of a mine being built by Imperial Metals on Tahltan traditional territory has been lifted. Road access to the Red Chris copper and gold mine project is now open following a deal reached between Imperial and the Tahltan Central Council, the overall governing body of the Tahltan. Imperial will pay for a review of the Red Chris tailings pond design conducted by a company chosen by the Tahltan Central Council. The blockade, mounted by

a Tahltan group called the Klabona Keepers and others, went up Aug. 8 after worries were expressed about the Red Chris tailings pond after the pond at the Mount Polley mine in the Cariboo, also owned by Imperial, failed, pouring liquid into river systems. The Tahltan Central Council did not endorse the blockade but has been working to find a resolution. The $631 million project, which is employing Tahltan workers and Tahltan companies, is due to open the end of September. Construction is in the final stages as is a power line to the location. That line will connect the

CALL TODAY TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT 4925 Keith Ave, Unit 102, Terrace

Nelson Furtado : Owner

mine to BC Hydro’s Northwest Transmission Line which went into service in July. In a release, Imperial said the review is “to confirm that world class standards have been incorporated in its design, engineering, construction and operation. The review will be conducted by an independent third party engineering firm that has been selected by the Tahltan Central Council” and is to be finished Sept. 24. “Imperial has agreed to address all material issues, if any, identified by the review in a timely manner and to the reasonable satisfaction of the Tahltan Central Council,” the release continues. Rhoda Quock, who speaks

Speedy Glass Ad antage

Best Replacement Technology Ezi-Wire®, our innovative replacement system, is developed to protect the vehicle’s body and ensure its integrity. Our quick-dry urethane formula, activator and primer provide optimal windshield adherence for the perfect fit, every time.

for the Klabona Keepers, said the blockade was lifted after the group received a written copy of the agreement between Imperial and the central council which provided for an independent review. And she said the Klabona Keepers are planning to conduct their own review of the tailings pond design. “It’s nothing against the [Tahltan Central Council] or anything,” Quock said of the decision to perform a second review. “We’re going to work as a nation.” “Our plan was not to shut down the mine permanently, we just wanted it done in a safer way,” Quock added.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.