Kamloops council defeats motion looking to bring conditions to Ajax Mine approval process

The proposed Ajax Mine. (AJAX MINE/KGHM / iNFOnews.ca)

November 25, 2016 - 11:30 AM

KAMLOOPS - A motion for Kamloops city council to advocate for new provincial oversights for the proposed Ajax Mine project was defeated this week.

The motion from Coun. Denis Walsh at the Nov. 22 council meeting this week included five conditions he wanted city council to approve before accepting the mine. In a tie vote the motion was defeated, with councillors who’ve already spoken out against the mine voting in favour.

Mayor Peter Milobar said acceptance of the conditions could create confusion, while Coun. Ken Christian viewed it as an omnibus motion and had a variety of specific points he didn’t want to support.

Coun. Marg Spina supported some aspects of the motion, but wanted to wait for the city’s independent review of the environmental application to be completed.

“What we’re saying is ‘We don’t need any other information,’” Spina said. “We’re just going to throw of a letter and what the heck, stir the pot, get things revved up again.”

Walsh has been pushing the five conditions since the summer, when he sent out a media release saying if the conditions were met he could potentially support the mine. At Tuesday’s council meeting he said the conditions were the minimum needed for his support, but added he probably still wouldn’t support the proposed mine.

The proposed Ajax Mine project, located southwest of the city, is currently in the enviromental application assessment phase, with government agencies looking at how the mine would impact the region. The 180 day process has been suspended for over than 200 days now.

Find past stories on the proposed Ajax Mine here.

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