An operating permit has been granted for the Cariboo Gold Mine in central British Columbia, a project that’s expected to process 1.1 million tonnes of gold-bearing ore a year.
But even though it has support from several key local leaders and First Nations, it still faces opposition from people concerned about the social and environmental impacts of the new industrial project.
The B.C. government said in a statement that Barkerville Gold Mines, owned by Osisko Development Corp., was issued the permit for the underground mine in a process that took 13 months to complete.
The government statement says a permit under the Environmental Management Act is under consideration, with a decision expected in weeks after the government issued an environmental assessment certificate for the mine last month.
The mine is expected to employ more than 630 people during construction with an initial $137-million investment and another $918 million over the life of the mine.
That will be a major change for the community where it is being built: Wells, located about 100 kilometres southeast of Prince George, home to just over 220 people and best known as the gateway to the Barkerville Historic Town and Park, a gold mining museum and National Historic Site.
While it has support as an economic driver for the community, some are concerned that the mine’s presence so close to the town will permanently alter its character, with one resident previously telling CBC News, “It would turn our town into, effectively, an industrial site.”
Wells Mayor Ed Coleman said on Thursday that the mine would have a major impact on his community, both in the short term, with new workers and investment coming in, and over the course of the lifespan of the mine.
“In the long run, 20 to 30 years, we see Wells growing to probably 1,000 people,” he said. “This is big.”
He acknowledged that some members of his community are worried about the impacts of the mine and said “they will continue to be diligent” while also expressing thanks to the province for the amount of consultation that has gone into the project so far.
The province is touting the mine as the first to be entirely assessed under the new Environmental Assessment Act, which was modernized in 2018 to enhance public confidence.
It’s also the first to be approved by the newly-created Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, created this past week by B.C. Premier David Eby.
The Mining Association of B.C.’s Michael Goehring said that the newly-announced ministry, headed by Jagrup Brar, shows the government is looking at the potential benefits of several ongoing mining projects in B.C.
The province says approval for the project was done in consultation with experts, the public and First Nations, including the Lhtako Dené, Xatśull, and Williams Lake nations.
However, earlier this month, the Xatśull nation issued a statement calling for the project to be halted until it had granted consent.
“The province has shown it is failing to responsibly regulate this sector in our territory,” Xatśull Chief Rhonda Phillips said on Nov. 7.
“It’s not the 1980s anymore — by failing to address the very serious issues raised by Xatśull about this project, the province and Osisko are neglecting to uphold their commitments to reconciliation and to implement DRIPA (Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act) and UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).”
But in response, Lhtako Dené Chief Clifford Lebrun said in a separate statement that his nation was an active participant in every stage of the gold mine project, and it’s a significant opportunity for its members.
“We look forward to a sustainable and growing relationship with Osisko Development as the project proceeds through to operation.”
Osisko CEO Sean Roosen says getting the construction and operating permits marks a major milestone for it and its stakeholders.
“It is the culmination of almost five years of extensive discussion and consultation with provincial regulators, Indigenous nations and host communities in ensuring the project becomes a model for responsible mine development and environmental stewardship that redefines mining for a better future,” he said in the statement.
