The first proposal by Taseko for the ‘Prosperity’ mine would have dumped its toxic tailings into picture-perfect Fish Lake, Little Fish Lake and parts of Fish Creek.
All the current Liberal candidates (including our own native son) said they would pressure Ottawa to approve this $815-million project, no matter where the mercury laden tailings went.
Apparently ‘development at all costs’ is the provincial Liberal (nee Socred) message of the 21st century. Closer to home, you saw how five of seven councillors sold out the Salmon River and lake for the possibility of SmartCentres’ so-called $50-million “prosperity” development. In the case of Taseko, “all that glitters... is not gold.” The gold and copper mine may bring prosperity to Wall Street/Bay Street and to the hapless labourers of Williams Lake for up to 40 years, a mere handful of days compared to another 1,000 years of fishing and hunting for the Tsilhqot’in and neighbours as was always part of their ‘rich’ heritage. As for our own situation here in the Shuswap, ‘prosperity’ might be measured in the future by the proliferation of bottled water outlets in the Thompson-Okanagan watershed.
Duncan Morris