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Tuesday, April 2, 2013 X Volume 26 No. 26
TUESDAY
Thompson Rivers University honours its athletes Page A11
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THIS WEEK
Les Miserables — and more — coming to Kamloops stages Page A13 Thompson River Publications Partnership Ltd.
Ajax: City opposition not applicable By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
In January 2012, former Ajax mine project manager Jim Whittaker effectively handed Kamloops city council a veto over the controversial proposed copper and gold mine. “If any one of the levels of government says no, this project will not go ahead,” Whittaker told media following a presentation at city council. The five levels Whittaker cited included the federal and provincial governments, the ThompsonNicola Regional District, First Nations bands in the area — and the City of Kamloops. However, in advertisements published last week, including in the March 26 edition of Kamloops This Week, KGHM Ajax is now claiming Whittaker, who is no longer with the company and who is not named in the ad, “misunderstood the process” by which the mine is granted approval. The ad points to the provincial and federal government ministers officially responsible for making the decision as the people who “have the final say on whether or not our project is approved.” That means the mine’s proponents would go ahead with their project with provincial and federal approval even if city council officially opposes it, KGHM Ajax spokesman Yves Lacasse confirmed to KTW. “The EAO (B.C. Environmental Assessment Office) and the CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency) will be making recommendations to the provincial and federal ministries and these are the people that will have the final say in this process,” Lacasse said. “We certainly value mayor and council’s input and opinions, just like any member of the community. But, the process is what I just explained.” Whittaker left the role of project manager for Ajax when KGHM International took over mine operations from his company, Abacus Mineral Exploration, in September 2012. “I don’t know why Mr. Whittaker would have made those comments,” Lacasse said. “I cannot explain that.”
BOOK ‘EM, BERT KIDS! ABOVE: Grade 5 Bert Edwards science school students Kaeden Ewen (left), Tyler Stuart and Trevor Nixon can hardly wait to look at their research efforts published in a new book, A Children’s History of Kamloops: Drawing Parallels during the book’s launch in the school gymnasium on Thursday, March 28. LEFT: Grade 5 student Daylen Leighton presents a bouquet of roses to his teacher, Hilary Villeneuve, on behalf of his classmates in recognition of her efforts to have her students be part of the book. The kids were aided in their efforts by Melissa Baker, the museum’s education co-ordinator, and Paul de Zeeuw, the city’s webmaster. The publication, which features the students’ art alongside historical information, is available for $17.95 at the Kamloops Museum and Archives, which is located at Seymour Street and Second Avenue in the downtown core. Dave Eagles photos/KTW
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