Editor:
Congratulations to the new city council, which has experience and will hopefully have more financial stability and accountability than previous councils.
One issue that will not go away is Taseko’s Prosperity mine. Several councillors and the mayor attended Thursday night’s meeting sponsored by the Tsilhqot’in National Government. It is clear now, as it was at the original panel hearings, that the proposed mine can never exist without the destruction of Fish Lake and Nabas.
The waterways and the surrounding land would never be the same. The cumulative impact would be extreme.
Toxic wastes would pollute the spawning areas, and the salmon runs, crucial to the Chilcotin peoples, would not survive. This land is both sacred and essential to the Chilcotins.
The word respect came up a lot at this meeting. If Taseko Mines had respect for the aboriginal peoples it would abandon its “new” proposal and end the conflict that exists. Nothing has changed since Taseko announced its intentions.
Williams Lake already has “prosperity.”
It is a very prosperous community. I have lived in or around Williams Lake since it was a village of 1,000 people. Many of us have watched Williams Lake grow steadily for the last half century.
Four new mills started up in the 60s, and, along with Lignum, had sawmills, planer mills, truckers, and logging outfits.
Gibraltar Mines started up in the 70s, and now Mt. Polley.
Construction companies, real estate, and businesses have been thriving over these years.
There were some millionaires and multi-millionaires who made their fortunes during this extended boom.
At this point in time, Williams Lake is doing very well.
Lumber prices are up and new contracts have been signed with China. Mineral prices remain high, and wages at Gibraltar and Mt Polley are very good. Other new mines are planned: Black Dome and Elizabeth, Spanish Lake and two others.
The city and its businesses will continue to do well.
Michael Atwood
Williams Lake