TNG: "New Prosperity Mine is Finally Dead"

Courtesy of the Tsilhqot'in National Government:

Editor's Note -- Taseko Mines told the media it has no comment in regards to denial of Supreme Court of Canada leave for it to hear the Federal Government decision of February 2014 in regards to a federal environmental certificate to construct "New Prosperity" within Cariboo RD Electoral Area 'J'... 

The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is celebrating the Supreme Court of Canada’s denial of Taseko Mines Limited’s (TML) application to appeal the rejection of the New Prosperity Mine proposal by the Government of Canada in 2014. New Prosperity Mine threatened a sacred area of profound cultural importance to the Tŝilhqot’in peoples,) with a destructive open pit gold and copper mine that did not have the consent of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation.

In October 2013, an independent federal panel of experts concluded, in its environmental assessment report, that New Prosperity would have significant and immitigable impacts on water quality, fisheries and Tŝilhqot’in cultural heritage, rights and traditional practices.

This New Prosperity Panel affirmed the importance of Teẑtan Biny (Fish Lake) and Nabaŝ as “unique and of special significance” for the Tŝilhqot’in peoples. The Federal Panel noted that TML was unable to even meet “proof of concept” for its unprecedented, unproven, entirelake recirculation proposal and that Teẑtan Biny would be contaminated over time, despite mitigation efforts.

In February 2014, the Government of Canada accepted the conclusions of the Federal Panel Report and rejected the New Prosperity Mine. In response, TML filed legal challenges to both the Federal Panel Report and the decision of the Government of Canada rejecting the New Prosperity Mine. The Federal Court rejected both of TML’s legal challenges in December 2017 and the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed TML’s appeals in December 2019.

Both levels of court affirmed the position of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation that the Government of Canada made the eminently reasonable and fair decision to reject this destructive project.

Today, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Taseko’s application to hear a further appeal. This means Taseko has no further legal avenues to appeal the rejection of the New Prosperity Mine. The New Prosperity Mine is now dead – it cannot be legally built.

Tsilhqot'in National Government Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse said:

"This decision has been a long time coming. We are celebrating the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision today, and taking the time to reflect on the immense sacrifices made by
our communities and members to finally have their voices heard and respected. Now we call on Taseko Mines to accept that this is the end of the road for them. It’s time to move on and protect this sacred area for the survival of our way of life. We look forward to turning our focus and energy to supporting responsible economic projects in appropriate areas of our Territory, as we move towards building a regional economy that respects our culture, our spirituality and our Aboriginal Rights and Title. BC should finally recognize the importance of this area to the Tŝilhqot’in and support the Dasiqox Nexwagwezʔan. The Nation should never have to face the burden of an industrial threat to this sacred area ever again.”