The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that the British Columbia government has paid off bankrupt Cline Mining for the loss of its claims
in the Flathead River
Valley. The Globe's Justine Hunter writes that Mines Minister
Bill Bennett okayed the $9.8-million settlement
to compensate for the
money Cline
spent developing its claims. He said the
bigger mining industry players
had avoided the region because it
was long known to be environmentally
sensitive.
Mr. Bennett said: "I really didn't believe there
would ever be a mine permitted
there. I don't think any government
in B.C. would have done
that." Green Party MLA Andrew Weaver
said the settlement highlights
the need for B.C. to reform the
law that allows firms to
stake mineral claims on Crown
land on-line, without regard for
environmental values or first
nations land claims.
He calls the staking process "absurd." He says, "Give me $25 and I can make a
stake on-line in some pristine area
and then maybe get compensated."
Mr. Bennett said the staking system
is not at fault. "You can't do
any work until you get a permit.
We have to do a good job in the
permitting phase."
A Green observer called the compensation
reasonable.
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