Almost 80% of British Columbians want an end to preferential treatment for the province’s mining sector and 73% believe B.C.’s environmental assessment process needs to be strengthened, according to poll results released yesterday by Sierra Club BC.
The report comes on the heels of Christy Clark’s announcement Tuesday of a bill that will exempt “lower risk” mining activities from the permitting process.
Sierra Club BC executive director George Heyman said, “It’s time to end special treatment for B.C.’s mining sector.
“Mineral exploration companies should have to abide by the same rules as forestry and other sectors. Until we modernize B.C.’s 150-year-old Mineral Tenure Act we will continue to see conflict around the province over environment and land use issues, accompanied by economic uncertainty.”
Almost 80% polled by Strategic Communications believe that B.C.’s 150-year-old mining act should be overhauled to eliminate special treatment for the mining sector that gives mineral claims priority over other industries, land use plans and other local interests in most of B.C.
Last week the Tsilhqot’in Nation filed an injunction in B.C. Supreme Court against government permits being granted to Taseko Mines Ltd. (TSX: TKO) to build 23.5 kilometres of roads and to make 59 test pits and 18 drill holes in preparation for a controversial open-pit gold and copper mine near Fish Lake.
Taseko’s original Prosperity mine proposal was approved by the B.C. government following a provincial environmental assessment, but rejected by Ottawa after a federal environmental assessment.
The company’s revised proposal was recently accepted for a new federal environmental assessment review.
The Sierra Club’s poll found that 73% of British Columbians believe the Fish Lake case shows that B.C.’s environmental assessment process needs to be strengthened. It also found that 82% are opposed to allowing mining companies to fill fish-bearing lakes with mine waste.
More than 60% support more mining regulations and environmental oversight, even if it slows growth, compared with 25.5% who want to make it easier for mining to expand.
Fewer than 10% think mining companies should continue to be allowed to stake claims and explore on private property without permission.
The poll questions involved a random online sample of 850 adult British Columbians and were commissioned in April by Sierra Club BC.
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV