Latest news with #NorthwestBC
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Enthusiasm for new B.C. mining plan despite few details
A plan to usher in a new era of mining by speeding up approvals is being pitched in British Columbia. First Nations leaders and the mining industry are optimistic about a new direction being charted by B.C.'s premier, even though he was light on details and wouldn't commit to timelines. On Monday, David Eby sketched out a vision for a revised process with 'one project, one review' where his government would work with federal counterparts and First Nations to speed up the approval process for new mines – which can currently take 12 years. 'Our province will be the economic engine of the new Canada that emerges from this moment of global instability,' he told attendees and journalists at a news conference. When CTV News asked whether he had a timeline target in mind, he wouldn't provide one, but did insist that the extraction of critical metals and minerals much in demand for electronics and batteries would benefit British Columbians and Indigenous communities alike, without sacrificing environmental safeguards. 'It's a unifying vision to protect the air, land, and water while creating good jobs,' Eby said. 'My goal is to expedite that work so the business will move ahead with clarity.' Local First Nations supportive Eby estimated that a streamlined process could generate up to $50 billion in capital investment, with two thirds of that going to projects in the northwestern parts of chief of the Iskut Band told CTV News they've spend years working with industry to plan resource development and are pleased with the direction Eby is heading. 'This work has been happening for a long time,' said Marie Quock. 'I'm very grateful to see that the province has begun recognizing this.' Tahltan Band chief, Richard Jackson said he sees widespread benefit to the province, and that he '(likes) what the premier is talking about' since well-paid mining jobs have already been benefiting his community for years. The president of the Tahltan Central Government pointed out that with sky-high costs for essentials like food – and scant services, like medical care – they want to see their communities built up for the long term. 'We're asking to make our lives a little bit easier and to see the benefits from resource extraction in our territory,' said Beverly Slater. 'We've been left behind, we've seen billions leave our territory, and we have very little to show on the ground.' Industry eager to see details When CTV News asked the Mining Association of BC if sped up approvals for environmental assessments could pave the way for corners to be cut, leading to risks, their president insisted that wouldn't be the case. 'That's a red herring,' said Michael Goehring. 'It's about reducing the roadblocks in the regulatory process, permitting, various pieces of, legislative requirements concurrently.' Right now, companies making applications for new mines are required to provide detailed plans that go through one department assessment at a time, contributing to the decade-long wait to know whether a project will be approved and contributing to investor uncertainty. By going through every process at once, he believes the same scrutiny can be applied much more efficiently. Seabridge mine proposal The environmental assessment application for Seabridge Gold's KSM Project in Northwest BC is many binders long. Image provided by Mining BC. 'There are many ways we can protect the environment and protect First Nations rights,' Geohring added. The premier appears to be fed up with the many years between application and the final decision by regulators. 'Nobody benefits from projects that are tied up in never ending processes,' Eby said.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Premier pushes plan for mining exploration despite Bill 15 backlash
Premier David Eby has unveiled his plan to speed up mining development in northwestern B.C. to boost the provincial economy. But the announcement was overshadowed by growing opposition to a controversial law that will fast-track infrastructure and resource projects. Eby says he has a plan to enable the province to fast-track mining development in northwestern BC, while respecting First Nations rights and conserving B.C.'s sensitive ecosystems. "High environmental standards and partnerships with First Nations are not at odds with resource development," Eby said at a news conference overlooking the Port of Vancouver on Monday. "Here in British Columbia, economic development, conservation of precious water and land and partnership with First Nations go together." Eby says there's no reason it should take 12 to 15 years to approve a new mining project in B.C. "The northwest is rich with critical minerals and metals that are the building blocks for much of the technology we rely on for our lives today, and they're also essential to new technology that will power our lives in the future. From electric cars and batteries to wind turbines and solar panels, we can't do it without these resources." At stake, he says, is almost $50 billion in economic potential and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. Key to the government's economic growth plan is Bill 15. It's controversial proposed legislation that would give the cabinet the power to accelerate public infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals, and "provincially significant" private resource projects like critical mineral mines. Indigenous leaders, environmental groups and the Union of BC Municipalities say the NDP government is giving itself unchecked power to push through resource projects with limited consultation or ecological safeguards. Tsartlip First Nations Chief Don Tom called Eby a "snake oil salesman" whose pledge to First Nations that they will be consulted about major projects amounts to "trust us, bro." "Trust has been broken between First Nations and the David Eby government," said Tom. Hugh Braker, who sits on the First Nations Summit's political executive, said Indigenous leaders who voted for the NDP in the election feel betrayed. "All the promises they made during the campaign last fall have gone out the window. They say damn the environment, full speed ahead." Eby says the government's economic plans for mining are not connected to the proposed law. "There's no connection between Bill 15 and today's announcement," he said. That, despite mines being a key example cited at Eby's news conference on May 1, when he announced the bill. Eby acknowledged that a mining project could be deemed "provincially significant" and therefore fast-tracked under that same bill. "We do have theoretically — should the bill pass — opportunities under Bill 15," Eby said in response to a question from CBC News. "But even if Bill 15 didn't exist, we'd still be doing this announcement today." The Association for Mineral Exploration said in a statement that in order for the province's proposed strategy for mining exploration to succeed, "it must be an open and transparent process that includes the mineral exploration sector at the table with government, First Nations and other partners." Three First Nations leaders at Eby's event — Talhtan, Kaska͛ and Taku River Tlingit First Nations — backed the province's plan to fast-track mining development. "We want to see our lives change for the better," said Beverly Slater, the president of the Talhtan Central Government. In 2023, the Tahltan Central Government and the province reached a co-operation deal on the Red Chris gold and copper mine located in Tahltan Territory. MLAs are set to vote on the final stage of the bill this week. Don Tom says if it passes, First Nations groups are prepared to launch legal action.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Premier pushes plan for mining exploration despite Bill 15 backlash
Premier David Eby has unveiled his plan to speed up mining development in northwestern B.C. to boost the provincial economy. But the announcement was overshadowed by growing opposition to a controversial law that will fast-track infrastructure and resource projects. Eby says he has a plan to enable the province to fast-track mining development in northwestern BC, while respecting First Nations rights and conserving B.C.'s sensitive ecosystems. "High environmental standards and partnerships with First Nations are not at odds with resource development," Eby said at a news conference overlooking the Port of Vancouver on Monday. "Here in British Columbia, economic development, conservation of precious water and land and partnership with First Nations go together." Eby says there's no reason it should take 12 to 15 years to approve a new mining project in B.C. "The northwest is rich with critical minerals and metals that are the building blocks for much of the technology we rely on for our lives today, and they're also essential to new technology that will power our lives in the future. From electric cars and batteries to wind turbines and solar panels, we can't do it without these resources." At stake, he says, is almost $50 billion in economic potential and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. Key to the government's economic growth plan is Bill 15. It's controversial proposed legislation that would give the cabinet the power to accelerate public infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals, and "provincially significant" private resource projects like critical mineral mines. Indigenous leaders, environmental groups and the Union of BC Municipalities say the NDP government is giving itself unchecked power to push through resource projects with limited consultation or ecological safeguards. Tsartlip First Nations Chief Don Tom called Eby a "snake oil salesman" whose pledge to First Nations that they will be consulted about major projects amounts to "trust us, bro." "Trust has been broken between First Nations and the David Eby government," said Tom. Hugh Braker, who sits on the First Nations Summit's political executive, said Indigenous leaders who voted for the NDP in the election feel betrayed. "All the promises they made during the campaign last fall have gone out the window. They say damn the environment, full speed ahead." Eby says the government's economic plans for mining are not connected to the proposed law. "There's no connection between Bill 15 and today's announcement," he said. That, despite mines being a key example cited at Eby's news conference on May 1, when he announced the bill. Eby acknowledged that a mining project could be deemed "provincially significant" and therefore fast-tracked under that same bill. "We do have theoretically — should the bill pass — opportunities under Bill 15," Eby said in response to a question from CBC News. "But even if Bill 15 didn't exist, we'd still be doing this announcement today." The Association for Mineral Exploration said in a statement that in order for the province's proposed strategy for mining exploration to succeed, "it must be an open and transparent process that includes the mineral exploration sector at the table with government, First Nations and other partners." Three First Nations leaders at Eby's event — Talhtan, Kaska͛ and Taku River Tlingit First Nations — backed the province's plan to fast-track mining development. "We want to see our lives change for the better," said Beverly Slater, the president of the Talhtan Central Government. In 2023, the Tahltan Central Government and the province reached a co-operation deal on the Red Chris gold and copper mine located in Tahltan Territory. MLAs are set to vote on the final stage of the bill this week.
