For Immediate Release – December 14, 2017

Turning down Ajax Mine proposal the right thing to do

Vancouver, B.C. – This afternoon Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman and Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Michelle Mungall announced that they will not issue an environmental assessment certificate to KGHM Ajax Mining for the proposed Ajax open-pit gold and copper mine project.

“It feels like Christmas has come early for folks around Kamloops, what great news to hear before the year end!” says Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director Joe Foy. “The Stk'emlupsemc te Secwépemc Nation (SSN), city of Kamloops and many other groups and organizations opposed this destructive mine proposal. We are very happy that the B.C. government has stepped up to put an end to it.”

The federal government has yet to render its decision on the Ajax mine proposal - but with the announcement today it appears that the mine project is dead.

The mine project would have seen the excavation of a huge open-pit only a few kilometres from the outskirts of Kamloops, threatening homes, schools and places of work with adverse and cumulative environmental effects. The mine site would have been near Jacko Lake, in an area of high spiritual, cultural and ecological significance to the SSN.

The Wilderness Committee is calling on the B.C. government to start a discussion with the SSN to determine the best way to gain permanent protection for the Jacko Lake area.

“Today we celebrate the right decision,” said Foy. “Tomorrow we must take steps to ensure our kids and grandkids don’t have to fight the same fight all over again. Permanent protection for Jacko Lake and surrounding area – in a way that conserves the values of the SSN – is the only way forward.”

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For more information, please contact:

Joe Foy | National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee

604-880-2580, joe@wildernesscommittee.org