South Cariboo-based representatives spoke on mine aspects ranging from the economy to the environment at the New Prosperity Mine general public hearings July 22-25.
Both sides of the project, as well as the middle ground, were presented in Williams Lake where opponents and proponents were balanced by local government looking to heal the community rift and move forward.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency review panel hearings offered an opportunity for the public to voice their opinions on Taseko Mines Ltd.'s proposed project at Fish Lake, before it moved on to topic-specific hearings on July 26.
South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) vice-president Leon Chrétien was one of the local businessmen who addressed the panel at the general hearings.
The overall SCCC perspective – put forward by Chrétien and director Rick Takagi – was that economic diversification is needed to alleviate the pressure on local forestry, tourism and ranching industries.
However, Chrétien says he mostly spoke about cultural perspectives.
"I come from a First Nations background (from my great-grandmother), as well as a French background that actually dates back to the mid-1600s [in Canada].
"So, I was just building the fact that we all come from a long history of culture, and the cultures we are talking about here today, whether they be [aboriginal] culture or our culture, are all a combination of all the preceding cultures."
"There is no pure culture, as we live in a culture of change ... we can't protect what is already changing."
Chrétien explains how he described to the panel that lifestyle and employment are what the Cariboo is all about: "I represent the people who want to live the dream – the dream where work and play meet. I vote yes to Prosperity."
He adds there was a lot of information presented from the scientific, community and cultural viewpoints that support the project.
"That doesn't negate that there will be concessions along the way, but it's a strong project for the Cariboo-Chilcotin."
Environmentalist's oppose mine
Friends of Fish Lake (FOFL) member Patricia Spencer says she told the panel why the organization opposes the mine project, noting the previous mine project was rejected.
"We have a lot of concerns, both with environment and First Nations.
"We're not sure why we're having a second hearing, even."
After witnessing every day of the general hearings, she believes the public hearings are providing a unique opportunity for all perspectives to hear each of the others.
"To me, it feels like each day is a new chapter in this story unfolding [about] the mine at Fish Lake."
However, Spencer adds some expert testimonials at the topic-specific hearings she attended in the following few days were also interesting.
FOFL wants to save the lake, yet she explains experts discussing the present recirculation plan for its water – intended to preserve the lake – also expressed certain concerns about that.
"Both government (Environment Canada) experts and other experts said this is unproven; untested at this scale. It's been tried before on a very small scale, but not with something as big and as complicated as Fish Lake."
Regional view balanced
Meanwhile, Cariboo Regional District chair Al Richmond says he presented a "balanced approach" to the panel at the public hearings.
"The presentation recognized the economic benefits of the project relative to jobs and the economy in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. [But,] the next part was that our support of the economic benefits comes with the caveat that is has to pass the environmental review.
"We said we support the project providing it can pass the environmental review and that is takes into consideration the First Nations cultural values and traditional uses, and they work to resolve some of those."
Richmond notes he heard a number of presentations at the hearings that well represented both sides of the project issue, and most were followed by panel, participant or public queries.
"I saw people questioned at some length about their presentation, and when I finished, we waited and there were no questions, from Taseko, First Nations or any of the environmental groups that were there."
He adds the whole mine review process has been "divisive and stressful" to the community.
"I'm hoping the panel will deliver these answers sooner, rather than later."