I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine in the media week before last. This person was certain I was not going to support the Ajax Mine Application.
I am not sure where this opinion has come from. I have maintained my neutrality about the proposal, waiting for the application for environmental application to submitted. I have committed to taking a position after I have reviewed and analyzed the application.
It's probably a good idea to point you towards the stance on Ajax I wrote for the 2014 Civic Election.
As mentioned there, I have set a very high bar for my support for Ajax. I have a strong concern about impacts to human health, for example. I have supported initiatives like a ban on cosmetic pesticide use. So, I can understand why some might think I am already against Ajax.
This might ultimately turn out to be the case. But, I am trying to be very open minded to the possibility that I could support the mine application as well.
I don't know if I will be able to carefully read the full +/- 18 000 page application in the next 75 days. That is why I am starting an Ajax mine reading club. I am hoping to coordinate gatherings of people with a bit of time to read and summarize / analyze and who have an open mind about the application.
Here is the full application:
http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_document_362_39700.html
And here are plain language summaries of the application, created and posted by the mining company:
http://application.ajaxmine.ca/Home.aspx
