Amnesty International is joining the Tsilhqot’in people and their many other allies and supporters in celebrating the Government of Canada’s decision to reject a proposed gold-copper mine on their traditional territory.
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In November, a federally-appointed environmental assessment panel concluded that the proposed New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine would have “severe” and “irreversible” impacts on the culture and traditional practices of the Tsilhqot’in people. The panel also found a wide range of serious environmental impacts on the lakes, rivers and wetlands.
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In a decision released on February 26, federal Environment Minister said that the significant environmental impacts of the proposed mine could not be justified.
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This is the second time that the federal government has rejected plans by Taseko Mines to open a mine near Teztan Biny or Fish Lake in Tsilhqot’in Territory.
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Amnesty International intervened in the latest review to argue that any assessment of a project’s potential impacts on Indigenous peoples must be consistent with the high standard of protection for Indigenous rights under the Canadian Constitutional and international human rights law.
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The panel report cites international human rights standards as one of the factors shaping its determination of the seriousness of the proposals protential impacts on the Tsilhqot’in people.
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