Taseko Mines halts exploration on New Prosperity in face of disputes

Fish Lake, site of the proposed New Prosperity Mine by Taseko.

by Derrick Penner, The Province, August 14, 2017

Taseko Mines has suspended plans for exploration work around its proposed New Prosperity copper-gold mine in the Cariboo Chilcotin in the face of legal disputes, a company official said.

B.C. First Nations leaders upset after Victoria extends mine permit without consultation

Tsilhqot’in First Nation chief Joe Alphonse says it should be illegal for the provincial government to extend the permit for a controversial mining project near Williams Lake without his band’s permission.
Photograph by: NICK PROCAYLO , PNG

By Laura Kane, The Province/Canadian Press, January 16, 2015

VANCOUVER — First Nations leaders are dismayed that the British Columbia government has extended environmental assessment certificates for two controversial mine projects.

The province granted a five-year extension to a certificate that had been given to an earlier version of the New Prosperity mine near Williams Lake.

The Tulsequah Chief mine, in the province’s northwest, has been determined to have “substantially started,” meaning the certificate will remain in effect for the life of the project.

Tsilhqot’in Nation members live in the area where the New Prosperity gold and copper mine would be built. Chief Joe Alphonse says it should be illegal for the province to grant an extension without his band’s consent.

Taseko mine near Fish Lake rejected by federal government

Fish Lake, targeted by Taseko’s proposed mine.

APTN National News, Feb 27, 2014

The Harper government has again rejected a proposed open-pit gold and copper mine in British Columbia that threatened to destroy a lake sacred to the Tsilhqot’in nation.

Taseko Mines’ PR Campaign Will Not Save Teztan Biny

The Tsilhqot’in Nation has rejected claims by Taseko Mines Ltd. (TML) that TML’s New Prosperity Project will “save” Teztan Biny (Fish Lake). The Tsilhqot’in Nation has no doubt that this “new” mining plan merely puts the lake on temporary life support and would result in the same devastating cultural and environmental impacts that prompted the Federal Government to reject the original Prosperity Mine proposalin 2010.

Update on Taseko’s Proposed ‘New’ Prosperity Mine in Tsilhqot’in Territory

Two corporate news articles on Taseko Mine’s proposed Prosperity Mine in central BC, which has been opposed by the Tsilhqot’in and environmentalists.

Taseko to begin work at New Prosperity after injunction overturned‏

The Canadian Press/Winnipeg Free Press, Feb 27, 2012

Tsilhqot'in protest at Taseko Mine's annual general meeting in Vancouver, June 2010

VANCOUVER – Taseko Mines Ltd. (TSX:TKO) says it will begin exploration work at the New Prosperity site in B.C.’s central interior after a court overturned an injunction brought by the Tsilhqot’in First Nation.
Taseko said Tuesday that the injunction, granted in December, was vacated by court order.
The mining company said it plans to begin preliminary work on Tuesday to obtain information it needs in advance of a federal environmental assessment.
The company has 12 months to complete the necessary work at the site needed for a second federal government environmental process, but has said the band refused to allow workers on the land.