After years of controversy, Vancouver?s Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO) has found a First Nations leader to publicly endorse its $1.1 billion New Prosperity project near Williams Lake.
Last week, Ervin Charleyboy, a former Tsilhqot?in National Government (TNG) tribal chairman and Alexis Creek Indian Band chief, told Business in Vancouver he?s in favour of Taseko?s plan to build a massive copper-gold mine near his traditional territory now that the company has re-designed the project to save Fish Lake.
?They?re not going to touch Fish Lake, and I stated if it was environmentally friendly then I would support it,? said Charleyboy.
Ottawa rejected the open-pit project a year ago after the company proposed to drain the lake to make way for the pit and store leftover non-acid generating rock. (See ?Chasing Prosperity? – BIV issue 1101; November 30-December 6, 2010.)
But Taseko has since re-jigged Prosperity, adding some $300 million in costs to save the lake and move the mine waste and tailings facility upstream.
The project has been re-submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which earlier this month said it would be subject to a second panel review, marking the first time in Canadian history that an industrial project has undergone two panel reviews.
Taseko has said the project would generate hundreds of jobs in an area of the province that badly needs economic opportunities.
But if the project is rejected a second time it would be a major blow not only to the company, but also to B.C.?s mining industry and Premier Christy Clark, who has made mineral development a cornerstone of her BC Jobs Plan.
Charleyboy, who only a few years ago vehemently opposed the project (he was once quoted as saying the project would be approved ?over my dead body?), has seemingly turned over a new leaf.
The former chief told BIV the other TNG chiefs, who continue to oppose Taseko, have kept him and others in his community ?in the dark? about the benefits the project would generate.
In fact, Charleyboy said multiple people in his community support the project, and that without it his community would have a tough time creating jobs.
?We?ve got nothing out there,? he said, ?especially when the logging is over, we will have nothing to offer our future.?
But Prosperity opponents argue that Charleyboy?s sudden change of opinion is conveniently timed to coincide with a local tribal election.
?He wants back in the game,? said Joe Alphonse, the TNG?s current tribal chairman. ?I?m a little bit saddened. He?s provided 20 years of strong leadership for the Tsilhqot?in, and what he?s doing now supporting the company is tarnishing that 20 years.?
Charleyboy confirmed that he plans to run for chief in the next Alexis Creek election in January.
Alphonse, meantime, further alleged that Charleyboy?s sudden change of mind is a ploy by Taseko to advance its project at any cost.
Taseko spokesman Brian Battison said that?s not true, and that the company had no communication with Charleyboy prior to his statement in support of New Prosperity.
Charleyboy?s public statements have become something of a scandal in Tsilhqot?in communities recently, and the former leader said he?s been the subject of a number of nasty verbal attacks.
On top of that, communication between him and the other TNG leaders has broken down, with both sides claiming the other refuses to answer phone calls.
And the mudslinging hasn?t stopped there.
Taseko and the TNG are expected to appear in a Vancouver court this week regarding two injunctions: one to stop Taseko from further exploration work at the Prosperity site; the other to restrain the TNG and its members from denying Taseko access to the project site.
TNG leaders remain adamantly opposed to the project, while Taseko said it has every right to continue exploration work and advance its project.
At press time, Taseko?s shares were valued at $2.89. ?
