In May 2009 the Social Planning Council wrote a letter to the Editor of the Williams Lake Tribune regarding the Prosperity Mine project.
Editor:
On behalf of the Social Planning Council, I am writing to express specific concerns about the focus paid to social and environmental impacts of Prosperity Mine. I’d like to first be clear that our intention is not to impede economic development as we are all eager to have employment opportunities come to our community. We do, however, strenuously urge the developers to pay full attention to process in considering the social and environmental impacts of the mine development.
With enough examples of similar projects that have gone ahead strictly based on an economic cost-benefit analysis and the resulting negative social and environmental outcomes, it would be ill-advised to proceed without genuine consideration of social and environmental impacts and take action to address them. As a community, we have made huge strides in our efforts to create an integrated approach and to recognize that economic and social development planning must be mutually inclusive, and we are seeing incredibly positive results in terms of our ability to work together. Through discussions at our Social Planning Council table, there is concern that the division between those who support Prosperity and those who don’t is already significant. While we recognize that it is unreasonable to expect that regardless of process, a project such as this will have full support, the consequences of proceeding without extensive research and respectful deliberation of community input could leave a sizeable fracture in our community which will effect our ability to work together in the future.
Monica Johnson
Chair
In response to the above letter, Taseko Mines gave a presentation at the monthly Social Planning Council meeting on June 11, 2009. Katherine Gizikoff presented background information including detailed mapping, and operational plans for their Prosperity Mine Project at Fish Lake. Question and answer period followed with social impacts the focus of discussion. Some concerns addressed included local unemployment rates and plans for hiring local employees. Others focused on the impacts of increased traffic to and from the site, as well as the potential for increased family violence as income levels rise. Another question asked was if any plans by Taseko Mines were being made to provide social benefits such as recreation sites, new bus routes, and other community services.
For questions and more information, you may contact Katherine Gould Gizikoff, Manager of Government and Enviromental Affairs at Taseko Mines Limited directly at 250-392-3100 or KatherineGizikoff@tasekomines.com.
For full meeting minutes please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com
Editor:
On behalf of the Social Planning Council, I am writing to express specific concerns about the focus paid to social and environmental impacts of Prosperity Mine. I’d like to first be clear that our intention is not to impede economic development as we are all eager to have employment opportunities come to our community. We do, however, strenuously urge the developers to pay full attention to process in considering the social and environmental impacts of the mine development.
With enough examples of similar projects that have gone ahead strictly based on an economic cost-benefit analysis and the resulting negative social and environmental outcomes, it would be ill-advised to proceed without genuine consideration of social and environmental impacts and take action to address them. As a community, we have made huge strides in our efforts to create an integrated approach and to recognize that economic and social development planning must be mutually inclusive, and we are seeing incredibly positive results in terms of our ability to work together. Through discussions at our Social Planning Council table, there is concern that the division between those who support Prosperity and those who don’t is already significant. While we recognize that it is unreasonable to expect that regardless of process, a project such as this will have full support, the consequences of proceeding without extensive research and respectful deliberation of community input could leave a sizeable fracture in our community which will effect our ability to work together in the future.
Monica Johnson
Chair
In response to the above letter, Taseko Mines gave a presentation at the monthly Social Planning Council meeting on June 11, 2009. Katherine Gizikoff presented background information including detailed mapping, and operational plans for their Prosperity Mine Project at Fish Lake. Question and answer period followed with social impacts the focus of discussion. Some concerns addressed included local unemployment rates and plans for hiring local employees. Others focused on the impacts of increased traffic to and from the site, as well as the potential for increased family violence as income levels rise. Another question asked was if any plans by Taseko Mines were being made to provide social benefits such as recreation sites, new bus routes, and other community services.
For questions and more information, you may contact Katherine Gould Gizikoff, Manager of Government and Enviromental Affairs at Taseko Mines Limited directly at 250-392-3100 or KatherineGizikoff@tasekomines.com.
For full meeting minutes please email spc-coordinator@xplornet.com
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