A public information meeting on the proposal by West High Yield Resources (WHY) to establish an open pit mine on Record Ridge this afternoon, Tuesday February 25, is under fire from a local action committee.
Save Record Ridge Action Committee (SRRAC) spokesperson and director, Elissa Ferguson, says the meeting fails the community in timing, location and lack of opportunity to engage.
“We do not believe that the virtual format of this meeting is inclusive.” said Ferguson.
“Many of the people living closest to the mind do not have high-speed internet with which to join the meeting meaningfully. And this is something we know the ministry is aware of and has been aware of for quite a long time.”
“We also find the timing of the meeting to be quite un-inclusive. 5pm is a time when many people are driving home from work or those with families are preparing dinner and being with their children. It’s a very, very hard time to get away.”
Despite the barriers, the committee hopes the meeting will trigger meaning community engagement between locals, the Ministry and WHY Resources.
“The level of meaningful community engagement and information sharing about the Record Ridge Mine has been very lacking. For example, we didn’t receive any response to the public engagement comments submitted in May 2024 and there was no notification or requirement for the proponent to notify the community or engage after they amended the application from being something that should go to environmental assessment to perhaps won’t go to environmental assessment in September.”
The committee is also criticizing the one-hour information timeframe for this evening’s session, as they anticipate over 500 people to attend the online forum.
“We find the one-hour information session is not aligned with the ministry’s commitment to come to the community discuss the concerns because it’s not a forum or a length of time that promotes discourse.”
“We also have additional concerns with the fact that no agenda has been circulated.”
The meeting will be held by Zoom, click here to join; https://zoom.us/j/99170309579.
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