KGHM Ajax Project

RE: Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors position on KGHM Ajax Project

In a recent column by Councillor Denis Walsh, the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce was quoted; stating that, “the city of Kamloops’ economy is strong and diverse with a growing population”.  The Chamber stands by this statement; however it should be noted that the strength and diversity of our economy relies greatly on heavy industry, including mining.  Many businesses in Kamloops and the surrounding region, and by extension the people that live here, benefit every day from heavy industry.  
 
Councillor Walsh further noted that “…the 42 business leaders who recently signed a letter of support were painting a negative view of our economy with large employers laying off or closing.”  These leaders were correct in stating that Kamloops has lost such employers over the recent years.  We believe they were trying to make a point, one which the Kamloops Chamber holds as well, that to ensure we continue to have a thriving economy, new opportunities must be developed to offset these losses.  KGHM Ajax has the potential to be just such a development, but only if it can be operated in a manner that meets the modern environmental standards that Canada has and should be proud of.
 
The position of the Board of Directors of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce has been that a decision on the proposal should be based on sound science and research that can only come upon completion of the environmental impact review.  Should the review come back favourably, there will be obvious economic benefit for the city of Kamloops, the surrounding area and the businesses that operate in the region.  Should the review reflect an unfavourable response, it will be because the cost to the environment was not acceptable.  Our Board of Directors will continue to support the KGHM Ajax proposal, but this will remain contingent on a positive environmental review.   
 
There will continue to be emotional debate from those who favour and those who oppose the development.   We believe that this debate is important, but suggest that it should be based on science versus rhetoric.  We encourage all Kamloops residents and business owners to remain open-minded to data as it has been and will be made available.  What needs to be remembered is that the great majority of businesses and people in Kamloops want this proposal to go through the process and then have a final decision rendered on fact.  
 
Kamloops is home to all of us and it is our responsibility to ensure we have a strong economy that respects the environment both now and into the future.  
 
Respectfully,

Steve Earl
President, Board of Directors
Kamloops Chamber of Commerce