McEwen’s Los Azules copper project gets key environmental approval
The company anticipates construction to begin as early as 2026.
The British Columbia government announced this week that, after one year of consultations with Indigenous peoples, industry, communities, environmental organizations and the public, it introduced legislation to modernize the environmental assessment of major resource projects.
In a media statement, the provincial administration said that the idea behind the changes is to provide “a clear and timely path for the approval of responsible resource projects, pursue reconciliation with B.C.’s Indigenous peoples, increase public engagement and transparency and deliver stronger environmental protections.”
The new legislation is also part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement signed between the New Democratic Party and the Green Party when the former was pushing to form a minority government in last year’s regional election.
“Revitalizing the environmental assessment process is a key shared commitment because we both recognize the need to strengthen public trust in government decision-making,” said Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley, in the media brief. “It is vital to modernize the EA process so that important considerations like climate change, cumulative impacts and new scientific standards are properly incorporated. I look forward to discussing the legislation further, so we can ensure that the wealth of our natural resources and the well-being of our ecological systems can be enjoyed by British Columbians for generations to come.”
“As a significant private sector employer of Indigenous peoples and a major partner with Indigenous businesses in British Columbia, B.C.’s mining sector is a leader in advancing reconciliation,” Bryan Cox.
The legislation is expected to provide increased clarity and certainty to project proponents through an early engagement phase that will identify the focus areas for the project assessment prior to proceeding through an environmental assessment.
Additionally, the law is expected to enhance public engagement by including additional comment periods and earlier collaboration between the Environmental Assessment Office and local communities. It is also aimed at improving the ability to more fully assess positive and adverse environmental, economic, social, cultural and health effects, including greenhouse gas emissions, and require their consideration in decisions. Finally, the plan is that it also strengthens compliance and enforcement for approved projects, along with audits, to make sure conditions included in EA certificates are mitigating identified adverse effects as intended.
“B.C.’s mining industry is committed to ensuring that responsible, community-supporting natural resource projects have a clear, fair and timely path to approval under the modernized Environmental Assessment legislation,” said Bryan Cox, President and CEO of the Mining Association of BC, in the media brief. “B.C.’s mining sector also plays an essential role in our transition to a low carbon economy through the commodities we mine. MABC will continue to work with government, Indigenous peoples and other important stakeholders to provide critical input to ensure the smooth transition and practical implementation of British Columbia’s new Environmental Assessment Act,” Cox added.
5 Comments
18wheel
Dippers did this in the 1970s too, mines shut down, some never opened again. I just sold twenty percent of my portfolio that was in BC mines – they’re already treading water and this will put them under – but hey, lotsa luck flipping burgers, cleaning hotel rooms and standing as movie extras. Great jobs, that tourism. Oh, yeah, tourism is down 20% too… I know, we’ll take Andrew Weaver’s advice and slap tolls back on bridges – easy peasy!
Well Done
Sounds like a load of wind. The more they say it, the less they mean it. The hard left are using the fake “climate change” story to shut down resource industry. BC’s economy is dead.
Dennis
Surprised they didn’t throw in the gender aspect as our glorious pm does for everything he does in this age of overdone political correctness and under done common sense.
Lifetimetrucker
These leftist parties promise the world to their gullible voters claiming they’ll offload the cost onto business to pay for it. Sooner or later those who create the jobs not only stop making their investments in the Province, They start to leave for friendlier places. And the resource industry begins to decline and the jobs they create that people depend on for their livelihood do the same.
Then they spin the propaganda and levy carbon taxes , environmental tax on consumer items that the general public use, Fees for parking at a lake. increased tax on beer or other recreational products, Hotel room tax to scoop funds off people who have to travel for sports ,visit another community. And many other taxes on the people themselves. Or they run up the provincial debt. Then raise your property and income tax rate.
As a result the people themselves have paid the bill. Government takes $1 from you in some form of Tax or levy. They only return 60 cents of that money to the people. The rest goes to pay for administering the program. Each time government gives you something. When all is said and done, You actually end up a bit poorer
Erik Petersen
See ya later mining industry. Having an economy was fun while it lasted. Looks like we’ll be dining on fairy dust and unicorns farts pretty soon. I hope your hugs keep you warm because you won’t be able to pay power. This country has lost its mind.