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Aboriginal title on Jacko Lake ‘larger than Ajax:’ KGHM
KAMLOOPS - Two local First Nations bands are claiming aboriginal title on the lands in and around Jacko Lake and the company behind the proposed mine planning to operate on those lands says it respects the assertion of title. This week the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation, made up of members of the Tk’emlúps and Skeetchestn...
Clock strikes midnight on anti-Ajax crowdfunding campaign
KAMLOOPS – The Stop Ajax Mine online fundraising campaign has officially ended and the goal was surpassed by more than $6,000. The 30-day Indiegogo campaign ended at midnight, June 19, and raised $31,350. Additional donations by cheque raised the tally to $35,358. “We are so very grateful to each of the hundreds of donors who...
Aboriginal title declared on Jacko Lake
KAMLOOPS - The Jacko Lake and surrounding area has significant spiritual and historical importance to the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation, and as a result, the nation has declared title over the property. The property, located within the First Nations territory and part of the site of the proposed Ajax Mine, is a ‘cultural keystone area’...
‘Help Stop the Ajax Mine’ fundraiser surpasses $25,000 goal
KAMLOOPS - The groups aiming to raise at least $25,000 to hire 'independent experts' to analyze the enviornmental application for the proposed Ajax Mine have surpassed their goal. The online fundraising campaign ‘Help Stop the Ajax Mine’ had raised more than $26,000 as of Wednesday, June 10. The goal may be met, but John Schleiermacher,...
Local businesses concerned about proposed Ajax Mine
KAMLOOPS – Local businesses are expressing opposition to the proposed Ajax Mine by sending letters to the province listing concerns with the project. So far about 150 local businesses have written letters to Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy, Mines, and Natural Gas, expressing their concerns about the proposed Ajax Mine. The Kamloops Area Preservation Association along...
Ajax asks local business for support
KAMLOOPS – At the request of KGHM, a collection of local business people have signed a letter in support of the proposed Ajax Mine project. The company approached a group of local business people asking to meet regarding the proposed mine. After a series of talks with KGHM, more than 40 individuals signed the letter,...
Anti-Ajax group rejects KGHM’s ‘no strings’ offer
KAMLOOPS – A campaign aimed at raising money to hire 'independent experts' to anaylze the upcoming KGHM Ajax Mine application received a donation from the proponent, but organizers have no intention of keeping that money. The Indiegogo campaign ‘Help Stop the Ajax Mine’ received the donation late last week but organizers say they are rejecting...
Groups against Ajax Mine raising funds to hire experts
KAMLOOPS – An online fundraiser started this week by groups opposing the proposed Ajax Mine aims at hiring 'independent experts' to review the application documents that are set to be submitted this summer. The application, which is expected to be thousands of pages of information in technical language, will be the document that helps decide...
Cavers’ motion to change environmental assessment timelines for Ajax Mine defeated
KAMLOOPS – There is no appetite around the council table to ask the province to change the deadlines surrounding the environmental assessment process for the proposed Ajax Mine. Coun. Donovan Cavers wanted his fellow council members to ask the province to delay the 75-day public comment period after KGHM submitted its environmental application to give...
KGHM promises information site with ‘plain language summaries’
KAMLOOPS – The company behind the proposed Ajax Mine is once again assuring council, and city residents, of its commitment to transparency with a promise to make easy to read summaries readily available to the public. In a letter to council KGHM Ajax Mine External Affairs Manager Yves Lacasse says there will be ‘plain language...
Public consultation process goes to consultation
HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A lot of people have recently expressed concerns over how the environmental assessment process works and now the provincial government is asking for input on how to improve the public consultation portion of the process. The B.C. Government's Environmental Assessment Office is asking the public...
Ajax Mine supporter event, protest planned for this week
KGHM STILL AIMING FOR SPRING SUBMISSION KAMLOOPS - As staff at the KGHM Ajax Mine office rush to finalize the environmental application for the proposed open pit copper-gold mine, those against the mine are planning a ‘peaceful protest’ outside a private supporters event this week. The private event is being held for supporters of the...
What does a high PM 2.5 reading really mean for Kamloops?
'DO WE SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN?' KAMLOOPS - A new report from local physicians has one air quality specialist noting that there is always room for improvement and the focus should be on what steps should be taken, rather than just the number itself. The Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment released a review of 2014...
NEWSMAKERS 2014: The proposed Ajax Mine
THIS WEEK, INFONEWS.CA IS COUNTING DOWN THE TOP NEWSMAKERS OF 2014. TODAY: NUMBER THREE KAMLOOPS — On the surface, not much happened with the proposed Ajax mine; the environmental review wasn't finished and no decisions have been made. But the proposal still loomed large over public discourse in Kamloops throughout the year, making it our...
UPDATE: Input on information requirements for Ajax extended
KAMLOOPS - The public has been given a couple more days to comment and provide feedback on the proposed Ajax Mine and what information the company needs to submit in its application. After significant changes were made to the footprint of the proposed mine in the spring the provincial government decided there should be another...
Hundreds seek clarity on environmental assessment process
MORE CURIOSITY THAN OPPOSITION FOR AJAX KAMLOOPS - More than 860 people attended information sessions this week and even though the proposed Ajax Mine was the topic there were no protests, picket lines or large groups gathering at the Coast Hotel. While many were seeking more information on the environmental assessment process many more were...
Learn about the environmental assessment process
FIND OUT HOW IT APPLIES TO AJAX MINE PROJECT KAMLOOPS - Mark you calendars for Nov. 25 and 26 if you have questions about how the environmental assessment process works. At the request of Kamloops residents, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency are hosting public workshops on the assessment process....
Ajax clarifies stance on civic election support
REGISTERING WITH ELECTIONS B.C. A 'COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY' KAMLOOPS - The company behind the proposed Ajax Mine is looking to clarify why they are registering as a third-party sponsor with Elections B.C. On Monday the company issued a confusing statement about a letter they had sent out to supporters. What they didn't say was why...
Ajax public comment period opens next week
INFORMATION SESSIONS AT END OF MONTH KAMLOOPS - The round of public comment period promised by the provincial government on the proposed Ajax Mine will run for one month beginning Nov. 18. Council and residents fought for the chance to have another say on what should be included in the application requirements for the project...
Ajax to officially enter the election
PLANS TO REGISTER AS THIRD-PARTY SPONSOR KAMLOOPS - After saying they would not endorse specific city council candidates KGHM Ajax now says it is registering as a third-party sponsor this week. The decision comes just over a month after the company said it would not support anyone running in the civic election. A spokesman declined...
ELECTIONS 2014: Candidates take on Ajax
AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE THEY STAND KAMLOOPS - There is a lot of information to sort through as we head into elections, so we decided to make the candidates answer a series of five questions as directly as possible, and in as few characters as possible. Our first question is about the proposed Ajax Mine....
Information event on Ajax project
KAMLOOPS - A panel of locals who have been outspoken about the proposed Ajax Mine will speak at an information sessionTuesday night. Dr. Jill Calder, Robert Schemenauer, Peter Tsigaris and Tony Brumell will make up the four-member panel discussing the proposed mine at a public forum. Calder is one of the lead physicians behind Kamloops...
Voters want candidates to be clear over Ajax
KAMLOOPS - The votes are in and of the 200 people who responded to a Kamloops Voters Society survey, 72 per cent want city council candidates to take a clear stance on the proposed Ajax Mine. The Society has released the results of the online poll conducted earlier this month and on many questions there...
Information session to run same time as Ajax comment period
KAMLOOPS - City council fought for a public information session that would help people understand the environmental assessment process, as it applies to the proposed Ajax Mine, but this week it was announced we would have to wait a bit longer for that meeting. With the Environmental Assessment Office approving a new public comment period...