BC Resource Coalition speaks out

The Coalition has since regrouped with a common theme for all projects.

“To try and make some common ground where people who are going to come to our land and try and develop it safely and within cultural boundaries, to develop a pathway or a roadway to get to ‘yes.'”

But the industry has also been under fire recently. Tiefensee says there is an Environmental Assessment process, along with many other safeguards in place, with an eye to ensuring all the stakeholders’ needs are met, including the environment.

“What we are frustrated with, as are major proponents in the industry who want to develop projects and help build the socio-economic base responsibly, is that [the EA process] is unpredictable,” suggesting decisions are based on pressures from lobbyists rather than science, often before the process gets underway.

“I’m 100 percent for listening to anybody say anything as long as it’s factual, not personal and it’s aimer at coming to a collaborative, constructive answer,” he says. “Not one person is responsible for the solution, everybody is.”

by Cheryl Jahn

BC Resource Coalition speaks out

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