‘Continue to fight’ against Ajax, union leader Boyce tells crowd of 300 in Parkside Lounge
Richard Boyce speaks to capacity crowd at Parkside Lounge.
NEWS — A union leader’s perspective was brought to the Ajax debate today as United Steelworkers Local 7619 president Richard Boyce told a crowd of 300 why an open-pit mine “on the city’s doorstep” is a bad idea.
Boyce acknowledged he’s known in the media as a “flipper or a flopper” for changing from an Ajax supporter to an Ajax opponent, but said, “we have to weigh everything at the end of the day and determine if it’s a good thing for Kamloops.”
Boyce has decided it’s not, though he emphasized he was speaking only for himself and not on behalf of his union.
He said there are many things environmental studies can’t predict because they’re based on a mine that’s not in operation yet. “There’s no way of telling what’s going to take place once the mine is up and running,” he said, referring to the impact on Jacko Lake and other environmental issues.
He questioned the use of the word “science” in connection with the proposed mine. “As of late there is a lot of hype,” he said. “Everybody’s looking for the right thing to say and the right way to say it.
“It’s not so much about science. It’s about a whole lot of people working very hard to dig a big hole to make money, and that’s not a bad thing.”
But he cited several examples of expired mines, including Granisle near Babine Lake, where he said reclamation hasn’t worked. “Nothing’s growing,” he said of Granisle, which has been closed for 25 years.
“When a mine happens we leave a huge footprint. That footprint doesn’t go away and it doesn’t go away forever. After that mine goes and it’s gone, that land will be useless forever…. And you’ll have dust blowing off it forever.”
Boyce said mining is necessary and that he supports the industry but not every mine is the right one. “Although I’m in favour of mining, not this mine,” he said, adding it’s too close to the city, “too close to where I live and too close to where my family lives.”
During a question and answer period, Boyce was asked his opinion on a federal review panel instead of the current federal-provincial assessment on Ajax.
“I think it would help,” he answered. “I don’t think there should be any cards left unturned.”
In response to another question, he said he doubts KGHM would build a smelter because it would be too expensive and would require a mine lifespan of much more than the 23 years projected for Ajax.
Only one questioner was clearly an Ajax supporter. He pressed Boyce on why he originally supported the mine and then changed his mind, wondering if it had to do with union elections.
“I was offended by the fact that in the beginning everybody came out swinging against mining so I came out swinging for mining,” said Boyce. “I came to the conclusion I was wrong.”
When Boyce told the questioner he has no worries about retaining his job as president, the man turned and walked out of the meeting.
“He should speak to why he thinks that mine would be beneficial,” Boyce said as the man left.
When he said City council should take a stand on Ajax and “quit sitting on the fence,” he got a round of applause. City councillors Nelly Dever, Arjun Singh, Donovan Cavers and Tina Lange were in the audience. Only Cavers and Lange have taken a position on the mine, and both oppose it.
Another audience member wanted to know what people can do to stop the mine.
Boyce said government can reject the mine if people are clearly against it. “I don’t think you can give up the fight. You should continue to fight. If enough people make noise either way you’re going to have an impact.”
Boyce’s talk, entitled “The Reality of Having a Mine On Our Doorstep,” was sponsored by the TRU Faculty Association executive, TRU Faculty Association Human Rights Committee, Physicians for a Healthy Environment and the TRU Eco Club.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Richard Boyce’s description of how Highland Valley reduces or eliminates the use of water trucks to suppress dust was most interesting. According to Boyce, Highland Valley has 5 water trucks, but will reduce or eliminate their use if it means having to take a driver from an ore haul truck. It is interesting that in the Ajax 2012 feasibility study, only two 30,000 gallon water trucks were budgeted for years 1-16 of the mine life, and then only one after that (page 16-19). The feasibility study is available either on the Abacus Exploration and Mining website, or the BC Environmental Assessment Office website.
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Well, after Boyce’s talk, the PR folks at KGHM are probably in crisis mode. It was really an eye-opener to hear about how a mine is run on a day-to-day basis. Not exactly what you read about in glossy broschures. How does one make a convincing argument against Ajax? Just throw a fistfull of tailings ‘powder’ into the air and watch it dissipate. The rest you can imagine. Thankyou Richard for your plain-spoken elegance.
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After listening to Mr. Boyce tell us all about arsenic from Ajax I am prepared to leave town as I now realize that the rock that has been ground into sand and spread all over our Tournament Capital streets must also contain arsenic! Please tell me this is not so!!!!
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Please correct me if I am wrong, but the heavy metals are often in proximity to the ore from what I can gather. I doubt very much that anyone is using the ore bearing rock to sand the roads.
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I recall a road building contractor telling me that they have to assay rock being used for fill for road building to determine if there is any nasty stuff in it. Hopefully the same is done for sand being applied to roads in winter. If not, this can be easily done.
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Boyce ‘s talk was balanced and informative and he should be commended for his courage in expressing his dissent against the mine, a view which is unpopular with many of his union members. If anyone has any doubts about the horrendous footprint that a mine of this size and location would have on Kamloops they should watch the documentary “The Hole Story” (National Film Board by Richard Desjardins) which illustrates the consequences of mining in proximity to cities in other parts of Canada.
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We elect people to represent all the stakeholders of this community. Councilors beating around the bush represent moral and intellectual rot. They were elected, I would hope, having an obligation of transparency and not avoid tough issues for political expediency. They were also elected in hopes that they will give something back to this community.
The mine issue crosses party lines and politics. Maybe I am cynical about the narrow and selfish bureaucratic motives that sometimes shaped our policies, but how could I not be when I see it at work every day in our public life. I understand human nature, and what shapes it because that was my life work, so when I see a man like Richard Boyce who has nothing to gain speaking about his life work I have to respect that. The fact that he has taken a position on this mine and has nothing to gain speaks volumes about the things he said.
Listening to Mr. Boyce it is clear that one can upholding the policies of one’s profession and at the same time upholding the interests of his community, province, nation and the world. I don’t believe that the 7 city councilors are doing that. Holding back to assess their political options or to see which way the wind is blowing is not the solution but the problem. Some of these councilors I think are smart enough to see that in our society there is a systematic distortion of intelligence, such systematic manipulation of public opinion, that only few politicians are moral enough to question the status quo? In fact there were only two councilors that came to listen to Mr. Boyce who by the way is a strong friend of mining industry, so what does that tell you about the 7 councilors, their minds are made up. Are they making decisions on the basis of “one hand washes the other” or by doing their due diligence?
So what will I do to defeat them? I will work to elect those that don’t have self interest exerting an influence on their reasoning. You see I believe that a politician must take a stand not because they want to be reelected but because they believe in it. I hope that in a small way this will contribute from outside in shaping policies that better serve the future of the people in this community.
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I believe Councillors Dever, Cavers, Singh and Lange were there.
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Yes and I think only two have made it clear where they stand.
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It was great to listen to Mr Boyce’s perspective yesterday. I am very grateful that he was willing to put himself in an uncomfortable position to help to educate us. I hope that more people listen – those of you who are undecided on this issue have a wealth of information that can be accessed right now. There is no need to await the outcome of the studies. This is a very important issue.
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I love this city and have lived here almost 30 years.!However I will not stay if the mine goes through.After I heard Mr Boyce I now have some hope that I may be here for along time.He has high principles and the courage of his convictions.Well done
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I’m glad I took the time to listen to Mr. Boyce’s presentation. He was a wealth of information and came across as honest and ethical.
I was glad to hear him talk about how the people who are paid to smooth the way for this mine and buy social license will have nothing to do with how it operates.
He was very clear that corporate employees like Mr. Lacasse and Mr. Koopmans would have absolutely no power if Ajax were to be approved and have a negative environmental impact on our city. Mr. Lacasse claims it is his job to keep Kamloops ‘safe’. That is a meaningless sales pitch and Mr. Boyce got that message out loud and clear. I hope people are listening.
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“Thank you” to Richard for a good presentation from one that’s been there. It was a surprise to hear that a union still has to fight for the health of its members. Where does management think the bad, “poisonous” air goes? Do the pit workers require scuba gear to finish their shifts?
And to moderator Dr. Calder; “Smooth”.
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Bill Mr. Boyce had nothing to gain from the stand he took so it took courage to speak candidly and honestly about mining in general and a mine some hundred meters from the city of Kamloops. . He did not allow any authority to influence his reasoning. He has encountered the financial authority that pays those he represents, however he did his best to challenge it .I was really pleased that all different political camps have come together to challenge this blithe on our community.
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City council is not sitting on the fence. It is very clear to me the “let’s wait for the EA” is just a convenient excuse for seven of them.
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City council is sitting on the fence and I will personally work to defeat every one of them who have chosen to represent Ajax rather than the voters of this city. Boyce was informative, fair in his assessment of the issue and anyone who states otherwise was not there. If you were there and you did not speak your opinion here does not count. I want to thank Mr. Boyce for his candid presentation since it takes courage to speak critically of the industry that pays your bills. .
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And how are you going to defeat them, Walter?
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Give me a call Walter and I can drum up a army of people to beat the streets in support of those candidates that display the courage in take a stand against this proposed mine
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