Ajax permit timing ‘a slight shift’
Yves Lacasse presenting cheque. (RIH Fpundation)
NEWS/ AJAX — A change in the expected timing for submission of the application for an environmental assessment permit for the Ajax open-pit mine is only “a slight shift,” a spokesman said Friday.
Robert Koopmans, senior communications manager for KGHM Ajax, said the permit application has been a moving target due to its complexity. He acknowledged there have been several previous announcements about an expected submission date.
KGHM has been saying for the past several months the submission would likely be filed by the end of the second quarter this year. A second quarter report from the parent Polish company said earlier this week the date has been moved back to the second half of the year, meaning it will be sometime after June.
The report said drilling has been done in the area of the planned open pit and drill cores will be used in metallurgical research.
“Actions were carried out aimed at submitting an application for environmental permits,” the report stated.
“Due to the need to conduct additional analyses related to waste storage technology, dictated by the results of the work of the commission set up to examine the causes of the accident at the Mt. Polley mine in British Columbia and to stricter criteria applied in reviewing applications by the decision-making authorities in Canada, submission of the application is planned to occur in the second half of 2015.”
Koopmans said the change in timing is minor. “We’re now saying summer.”
Meanwhile, Koopmans said he doesn’t know how a poster of a prominent Ajax opponent got into a photo of a cheque presentation from KGHM Ajax to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.
The photo shows Yves Lacasse, the project’s external affairs manager, presenting a cheque for $5,000 to the foundation. High above on the wall behind are three Royal Inland Hospital Foundation posters of doctors, including one of Dr. Jill Calder and the slogan, “Cares for planet Earth; Cares for your well-being.”
Calder is a member of the Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment, which opposes Ajax due to health concerns.
Koopmans said he has “no idea” how the photo ended up being taken with the posters in the background.
“I don’t have a clue,” he said.
“People can interpret that one any way they want.”
The photo appeared on the Foundation’s Facebook page with the caption, “Yves Lacasse walked in yesterday with the first half of KGHM Ajax’s $10,000 pledge. Thank you for your pledge!”
The photo was also posted on the Support Ajax Facebook page.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Healthy -Cares for the planet earth—handing a small pit·tance of a donation ….
Who dreamed up this insulting PR
Ajax mine is doing its best to sell an image of caring.
Hiking up back of Pine view Valley towards were the mine is proposed there is a new addition of posts holding signs donated by Ajax.
The signs say that this area is made possible by Ajax. (laughable)
The signage gives ridiculous names to trails that existed long before Ajax decided to interfere on humans and wildlife.
The trails are deer trails and show the extent of wildlife that use this area.
Keep your 2 sense donation.
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Ajax mine has taken well established deer trails and turned them into a bike trail for our environmental benefits/health of this serene respite.
Went up yesterday and two men were pulling weeds,making up signs to navigate the area.
Folks its either up or down,no big mystery. The have set it up like they think they are a world class ski hill for bikers with maps and difficulty charts.
My guess is ajax had to show improvements to green areas (much like your local shopping center has to plant vegetation – a hold back I think it is called to ensure the work gets done.)
Fact
Land was already fenced-for cattle,and gas line.
Trails were already established. Thank you deer and cattle.
Huge bike ramps are built for professional riders –who pays for the injuries of these kids? Believe me, there will be injuries.
On a ramp over 9 feet tall-the rider blasts off of it onto a narrow path. (again I saw this yesterday Aug 11 2015)
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing” is preparing.
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Three outstanding doctors have their names attached to three posters with three statements, does the hospital support the stance taken by the three and the organization that they represent. Is the hospital practicing a certain degree of bias, seeing that Kamloops physicians for a Healthy Environment can plaster the exterior of the hospital with their signs. Does mean that the pro-mine side could do the same.
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What are you talking about?
I have not seen any Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment signs at the hospital. Those posters in the picture appear to have been done by the RIH foundation.
As for membership in the group – Dr Calder is obviously a member and spokesperson – however, how would you know if the other two are, or are not members? There is a chance that they are in the group (close to 90 physicians in Kamloops are), but this article is not about KPHE. There is a certain irony in the photo because of Dr Calder’s photo and description – but she is certainly entitled to her own personal opinions and advocacy regardless of where she works.
I find the effort on the part of companies like KGHM to purchase social license rather nauseating. Especially when they donate to health and wellness organizations and initiatives. It makes me very uncomfortable to see their signs at community events. However, I don’t know many charities and foundations that have the luxury of turning down donations, no matter how noxious the source. They most certainly should not be allowed to put signs up at our hospital.
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A cheque for $ 5,000? No bad guy will ever write a cheque that big…because it is all about “caring”…one way or another…people can interpret that one any way they want.
Oh wait…am I paraphrasing someone here?
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Koopmans is not the only one in KGHM that doesn’t have a clue.
“Due to the need to conduct additional analyses related to waste storage technology, dictated by the results of the work of the commission set up to examine the causes of the ACCIDENT at the Mt. Polley mine”
Fact…Abuse of the engineered requirements by Mt. Polley mine’s management, and lack of BC Government oversight, does not make a toxic sludge spill an ACCIDENT.
It’s a result!
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