NOT IN OUR LIFETIME...................come on man!! B.C., Tahltan sign historic agreement on gold and silver mine
Agreement marks a milestone as the first time UNDRIP is applied to a resource development project
The Tahltan Nation and British Columbia have announced a historic decision-making agreement to move forward with the construction of an open-pit gold and silver mine 85 kilometres northwest of Stewart by Skeena Resources.
The consent-based agreement marks the first application of Section 7 of B.C.’s Declaration Act, which establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as B.C.’s framework for reconciliation.
B.C. is the first province in Canada to move ahead with UNDRIP and the agreement means the company must work with the Tahltan Nation for permission before moving forward.
Premier John Horgan, Tahltan Central Government President Chad Norman Day and Indigenous relations and reconciliation minister Murray Rankin announced the agreement at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Victoria this morning (June 6).
Horgan said the agreement will mean less uncertainty and will remove restrictions to economic growth, leading to more investor confidence. He said the framework will show investors who they are dealing with, what the timeframes are and “how quickly they can get to yes” should that be the outcome of negotiations.
“When investors look to British Columbia they will look to a jurisdiction that has shared decision making at its foundation so that we can develop the unique resources that we have here.”
Horgan thanked the Tahltan Nation for “opening up their hearts and their territory” which covers about 11 per cent of the province for “focused economic development.”
“We recognize the inherent right of the Tahltan to make decisions on their territory,” Horgan said. “The Tahltan recognize that they are part and parcel of British Columbia and Canada.”
Horgan confirmed there are “many more” agreements in the works that will represent the future for development in the province. “Where the opportunity exists we’re going to proceed with Section 7 agreements.” Day said this step in the process builds on a shared prosperity agreement in the Tahltan Nation that followed the NDP government’s Declaration Act legislation. Whether the project is ultimately approved is a collective Tahltan Nation decision.
“All of our people will eventually have a ratification vote aft