Rossland’s mayor says he has no doubt that most of the community opposes a proposed open-pit magnesium mine near the city.
Andy Morel says the large turnout at the city’s courthouse recently for the Save Record Ridge Action Committee’s injunction application demonstrated that sentiment.
“There are a few folks in the community that feel we should be promoting this project and supporting it,” he said. “But the vast majority of people that I come into contact with are greatly against this project for a whole number of reasons.”
Save Record Ridge’s injunction was granted, which prevents certain work on the mine from taking place until a judicial review can be heard in May. That review seeks to subject the project to a full-scale environmental review, which the provincial government has deemed unnecessary. The proponent, West High Yield, is appealing the injunction.
Morel says he is concerned the mine permitting process in BC is a “checkbox exercise” that doesn’t properly reflect environmental and community impacts and that the Mines Act is “far behind the times.”
“It’s poor timing in many ways because both federally and provincially, they’re pushing these kind of projects right now, especially for critical minerals,” he said.
Morel said he doesn’t think the Record Ridge project makes economic sense, even if local residents hadn’t raised a variety of concerns.
Rossland owes its existence to gold mining that began in the 1890s. Despite fighting the Record Ridge proposal, Morel said his community hasn’t forgotten its industrial heritage and isn’t against mining.
“We recognize its importance in our technological requirements, but it has to be measured against other social impacts and environmental impacts,” he said, adding that “short-term economic values just don’t cut it anymore.”
Morel said while there has been some suggestion a precedent could be at stake that could affect other mining projects, his highest priority is to “push the government to realize those impacts aren’t worth it in this case here in Rossland.”
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