Approval for Cariboo Gold Mine in Wells, B.C., but First Nation remains opposed

An operating licence has been granted for the Cariboo Gold Mine successful cardinal British Columbia, a task that’s expected to process 1.1 cardinal tonnes of gold-bearing ore a twelvemonth but is inactive opposed by a First Nation.

The B.C. authorities says successful a quality merchandise that Barkerville Gold Mines, owned by Osisko Development Corp., was issued the licence for the underground excavation successful a process that took 13 months to complete.

The excavation volition employment much than 630 radical during operation with an archetypal $137-million concern and different $918 cardinal implicit the beingness of the mine.

It says discarded stone from Cariboo volition beryllium stored astatine the Bonanza Ledge Mine adjacent Barkerville, which is besides owned by Osisko.

The merchandise says this is the archetypal task wholly assessed nether the caller Environmental Assessment Act, which was modernized to heighten nationalist confidence, and was done successful consultation with experts, the nationalist and First Nations, including the Lhtako Dené, Xatśull, and Williams Lake nations.

But earlier this month, the Xatśull federation issued a connection calling for the task to beryllium halted until it had granted consent.

“The state has shown it is failing to responsibly modulate this assemblage successful our territory,” Xatśull main Rhonda Phillips said connected Nov. 7.

“It’s not the 1980s anymore — by failing to code the precise superior issues raised by Xatśull astir this project, the state and Osisko are neglecting to uphold their commitments to reconciliation and to instrumentality DRIPA (Declaration connected the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act) and UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration connected the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).”

The government’s merchandise says a licence nether the Environmental Management Act is nether consideration, with a determination expected successful weeks, aft the authorities issued an biology appraisal certificate for the excavation past month.

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Lhtako Dené Chief Clifford Lebrun says successful a abstracted connection that the federation was an progressive subordinate successful each signifier of the golden excavation task and it’s a important accidental for its members.

“We look guardant to a sustainable and increasing narration with Osisko Development arsenic the task proceeds done to operation.”

Osisko CEO Sean Roosen says getting the operation and operating permits people a large milestone for it and its stakeholders.

“It is the culmination of astir 5 years of extended treatment and consultation with provincial regulators, Indigenous nations and big communities successful ensuring the task becomes a exemplary for liable excavation improvement and biology stewardship that redefines mining for a amended future,” helium says successful the statement.