150 business owners write in opposition to Ajax; names to be kept confidential

NEWS/ AJAX — A letter from 42 business leaders supporting Ajax has been countered with letters from 150 business owners opposing it, but the identities of the opponents won’t be revealed.

Anne Neave of the Kamloops Area Preservation Association said Monday a month-long campaign during May resulted in 150 copies of a letter, personalized with additional comments, being mailed individually to B.C. Mines Minister Bill Bennett.

“Many chose to write their own letters of opposition under company letterhead,” stated Neave.

“Organizers felt that individual letters would have more impact than a single letter with 150 signatures.”

She said the campaign was conducted by KAPA and the Kamloops E-mail Network of Concerned Citizens.

Names of the signees will be kept confidential. A copy of a letter supporting the mine and published in The Armchair Mayor News in May included the signatures of all 42 business people who put their names to it. KGHM Ajax acknowledged writing that letter in co-operation with those who signed it after luncheon presentations asking for support of the mine. It was sent to Bennett and other local, provincial and federal politicians.

Meanwhile, Coun. Denis Walsh is criticizing the letter signed by the 42 business people backing Ajax, noting it talks about lay-offs and business closures, painting a negative picture of the local economy.

Walsh, in a column published in Kamloops This Week, notes the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce website states the “City of Kamloops’ economy is strong and diverse, with a growing population.”

Building permit numbers support the chamber’s contention, he said, adding that Venture Kamloops also paints a positive picture of investment attraction.

“A key platform in the city’s economic-development approach highlights the importance of healthy living and the natural environment in conjunction with a favourable economic climate.”

Walsh writes that most of the tax revenues from Ajax would go to provincial and federal governments — “the two decision-making bodies for the project.”

“As outlined in Kamplan, Kamloops taxpayers have invested in considerable infrastructure to accommodate growth in the southwest sector of the city. Any shift in growth to the North Shore would require upgrades to existing water and sewer infrastructure, costing city taxpayers more than $100 million.

“Instead of bringing new revenues to the city, the Ajax project could saddle Kamloops residents with an additional tax burden.”

Walsh suggested the 42 business leaders supporting the mine jumped the gun. “They have sent this letter unabashedly supporting the new mine, prior to KGHM Ajax filing the permit application and the EAO ruling.

“This letter communicates a full steam ahead attitude, with no cautionary concerns for negative environment impacts.” He said the support letter is intended to “lobby, leverage and influence the B.C. cabinet, which has final approval on this project.

“It’s not about mining, it’s about location and politics. The question is, why is this mine even being considered given its proximity to the community? It’s too big. It’s too close. It’s simply too risky.”

As of Monday, a coalition of groups opposing Ajax has raised just over $23,000 in a crowd funding campaign to hire consultants to review the KGHM Ajax environmental assessment application expected to be submitted in August.