New gold and silver mine officially opens in central B.C. as premier faces backlash for fast-track plans
A new 44-square kilometre gold and silver mine has officially opened in the province's central Interior.
Blackwater mine, located 112 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof, B.C., west of Prince George, will be operated by Vancouver-based Artemis Gold and is expected to generate more than $13.2 billion, including $2.3 billion in provincial revenue, over its lifetime, the company said.
"British Columbia is going to be the economic engine of the new Canada," Premier David Eby said in remarks at the opening, citing the province's "amazing resources."
Eby was joined at the opening by Minining Minister Jagrup Brar, as well Acting Chief of the Lhoosk'uz Dené Nation June Baptiste and Ulkatcho Councillor Corinne Cahoose.
The mine was approved after the province signed an economic and community development agreement with the Lhoosk'uz Dené Nation and Ulkatcho First Nation — on whose territories Blackwater is located — to share mineral tax revenue from the mine.
The province says the nations have been engaged in all aspects of the project, from exploration, to permitting and environmental assessment, while the mine's owners and both nations have a project participation agreement in place.
Artemis says 400 people are already employed at the mine site, about a quarter of whom are Indigenous, with employment forecast to grow to 800 during construction of phase two, which will create an additional 170 permanent jobs.
Premier addresses backlash
At the opening, Eby acknowledged the criticism his government has faced in recent days from First Nations over legislation aimed at fast-tracking new economic development projects, including mines, which critics worry will override environmental safeguards and the need for Indigenous consultation.
"If we want to move quickly we're not going to be able to do it without strong partnerships with Indigenous people and we're not going to do it at the expense of our environmental commitments," he said.
"That will always be the case as long as I'm premier."
The opening came on the same day that British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee withdrew from an upcoming trade mission to Asia over the province's passage of bills 14 and 15, aimed at fast-tracking resource projects.
"How can we participate in trade missions to promote resource development when this government has just rammed through legislation that tramples our rights and threatens our territories" Teegee asked in a written statement.
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