Council’s Ajax decision a ‘victory’ for consultation process

WEDNESDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — Ajax opponents were feeling good Tuesday about Kamloops City council’s decision to ask the B.C. Environmental Assessment office to call a new public comment period for the mine project.

One called it a “victory.”

Whether or not it was a victory depends on how you define it. Any feeling that it means City council has come down on the “right” side and is about to take a position against the mine would be very misdirected.

There was nothing said or done Tuesday to suggest council is anything but still firmly on the fence with respect to whether Ajax is a good or a bad thing. The discussion and resulting motions didn’t have anything to do with that.

The issue was about public information and understanding. Even then, the unanimity of council was surprising, given its reluctance to step into the fray in the past.

But the frustration on the part of council over the public consultation process was obvious. They want the public to understand the environmental assessment process, and to be able to ask questions about it. They also want people to have an opportunity to understand how KGHM International’s changes to the Ajax site plan might affect that process, and to ask questions about that, too.

Council is to be commended for its determination for that to happen, and Coun. Donovan Cavers deserves credit for putting the motion together and getting the support of every one of his council colleagues.

But it’s not a victory for either side of the issue. If you want to call it a victory, call it a victory for both sides, and for public consultation.