Nisga’a takes B.C. to court over plans to redevelop historic-mine site

VANCOUVER – A First Nation in British Columbia’s northwest is taking the provincial government to court over plans to redevelop an open-pit molybdenum mine on lands where its members have fishing and hunting rights.

The project, proposed by Vancouver-based Avanti Mining Inc., would see the historic Kitsault Mine redeveloped about 30 kilometres from four Nisga’a villages and about 140 kilometres north of Prince Rupert, B.C.

The Nisga’a allege, in part, that the provincial government failed to consult the First Nation on environmental issues before issuing an environmental certificate to the company.

Nisga’a leaders accuse the government of breaching a treaty.

The Nisga’a want the B.C. Supreme Court to suspend the environmental certificate until a dispute-resolution process established by the treaty is resolved.

Avanti Mining Inc. is calling the Nisga’a petition disappointing and says it’s confident it has addressed all legal and treaty requirements.

The government did not immediately respond to the legal action.