KAMLOOPS — KGHM’s 18 thousand page application will be formally submitted to the Environmental Assessment office on Monday.
That means the public will have it’s first chance to see the mine proposal.
The timing coincides with council lifting it’s ban on public presentations related to Ajax.
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Mayor Peter Milobar says, “I get there is a want to have more public dialogue but to me it’s just not the right venue for it.”
Two delegations will get 20 minutes each to present and answer questions each council meeting once KGHM’s application is accepted by the province.
City Councilor Arjun Singh says, “when it’s submitted, I think it’s peoples right to come to council and give their thoughts on the application. It’s not a free for all.”
Councilors Singh, Lange, Cavers, Walsh and duty were in favor of the motion while councilors Christian, Wallace, Spina and the Mayor were not.
Milobar says, “in a public forum like this, whether it’s factual or not, it becomes fact and in a time frame that’s very condensed with a lot of information filtering around. You want to try to make sure, especially around the council chamber that it’s 100% factual information and accurate on both sides of the debate.
Also council voted unanimously in favor of having the report reviewed by an IH medical health officer.
Councilor Ken Christian says, “a medical health officer who is trained in population health and in medical toxicology would be the one to be best equipped to provide the city with answers to very important questions.
As a retired medical health officer himself, Christian says the expertise would help the public make an evidence based decision.
KGHM has promised to unveil it’s own dedicated website on Tuesday that will simplify the technical report into plain language.
