By JEFF NAGEL

pick ; and shovel.

ntensified ‘and’ high: tech “search:
a id- ‘Kalua nae My. Eagle, Plains

Per. Chuck: ‘Downie.

ine ‘exactly: what"is underground.
“We're going to do. a minimum

The* “question. is” “how. much As:

rea Te By MATT. PEARSON

vt EXPLORATION: IN. ‘northwest »
- “Bs; doubled in 2003, jumping: to
“$21, I million froin $102. million

“Although, there are at least t two:
dozen different ‘projects in. the’
early. stages’ of. development.
across -the | northwest, : “Six new
‘mine: projects’ are currently” in: the:
dvanced: stages of. ‘development.
All are ‘expected | to.-be" “operas.
ting. by. the decade’ Ss. end me

Kemess North - a
Northgate: Explorations’s s new
“mine: would be.. five kilometres’
“tiorth of its existing ‘Kemess South.
“Operation. It is. expected. to'exlend
‘the company’ 8.mining. projects in.
‘the region by 20-years. °?., =
“Kemess. North: has larger’ mi-,
neral deposits ‘than ‘its. southern ‘si--..
bling,” but there are’ more layers. of ©
"rock’.to. remove: from: the’ top of:
-Kemess’ North: so-it. would ‘be cru-
ceial for the company’ to begin. -that
“project: while ‘operations -at- ‘Kem-,
“ess South’are winding down. °

The: environmental. assessmen
_ is ongoing - and..the: company ‘ex-
“pects to table the feasibility. study
“shortly. Construction: could .com-

following by thé end of 2006,
One: hold-up : is the. ‘proposéd:
_ tailings’ ‘pond, : ‘Kemess: ‘would dike

tO use Duncan Lake; a: limited ace
cess, ‘Tow: ‘productivity’ lake, ‘with.
everal Species « of fish: x
The: company. says iL. ‘ha .
store waste ‘rock; underwater, . but |
‘development plans _ for. the® new .
mine include, -plans’ tO" restore the
- lake at‘ the:end ‘of the mine’s life.
"Stowe: also.‘ said the: «proposed

: would: inetease ‘exploration: and
- provide. econdmic opportunities ‘to
local. First, Nations. ‘The company

- “tise-the ‘road “to truck : its’ «
i] the'Poit of. Stewart. oF

Red Chris Copper-Gold:.
- Vancouver-based. beMetals..

‘southeast of Iskut.. The project
environmental, assessment will'-be
» > \gubmitted to. the-.government “in.
“2° Sune, with the feasibility: any lo :
a be © conipleted: iti the fall. :

hy, “K ‘HELICOPTER flying over- Terrace: with a

“~ strange circular: apparatus. ‘slung. uriderneath
‘doesti"t. look’ much, dike a: prospector. with: ms
“But it:was ‘the first evidence. this yeat ‘of 3 an. "

Resouces -

spent in: February. and.March on aerial surveys.
The: ‘helicopter-sliing ‘instruments are used: to
Send an, éléctromagnetic pulse into the ground. oz
; “he: signals: that bounce: ‘back. show* ‘the: con-

ete ‘going “to-focus: our: ta.
"explained: exploration man”

Eagle Plains. crews. will: be back, here by.
ne.to. follow, bp with ground | surveys.
Then. the. company. Will. carry.out- diamond
rilling. ‘on “at. least, six: areas. ofvils ‘claims: in:
; August: to’ collect core. ‘samples that will deter

of 10,000
feet of. diamond. drilling,” Downie said. 2.
Eagle. Plains. officials, make i AG ‘bones abou

NW. ‘it 5 distributed @ through, the. ‘een, If’ it. is

ee 6 ine ‘easy. -fuauling distance,
‘ere VE: got teally. ‘good toad. access 7

rospectors intensify
unt for | Calum (

‘for gold:

sthiere ‘and.

ie . mod down the. toad, .

“five. and base. in ‘Terrace wile work is under:
ooWway in the: area’ this’ year:. oa :
ae Eagle. Plains. will” also hire a‘ “contractor
é ~ through: the: ‘Kitsumkalum- band: to. ‘Garry: “out.
" baséline environmental: ‘studies, Downie: “said. * Saids.Tt-
“That: will: ‘employ. five: band members...

- Tf.the.claim ‘turns: into.a. producing miné,: ‘the:
Kitsimkaluin ‘band “on. whose. territory the ore:
“Sits. could: have’ a: shot “At cmnany,

bers jobs

Kills:

‘mence: in: 2005, with: production’...

Stewart- Omineca: ‘Resource Road

Creek’. min be

- Tabltan First. Nations’ territory: .:

“An-open pit mine that could: be.

‘extended :tO.: an underground.

operation,” the: project has ‘a. ‘poten-:

: dal bara of 25 years,- The. con:
it:

Corporation's ‘potential -mine “is”

THE HUCKLEBERRY. mine near. Houston is one of four opera- ,

~ ting. mines in the northwest. But: officials. expect at least six new
ones to. come. on siréam by. the, end. of the decade. .

othe. open pit ‘mine, anticipated. :
to begin. production at: thé end of ©
2006, could produce up to: 25,000
" torines of ‘gold: and copper per,day. °°
once up-and Tunning.. From there;:...
The: company:. ‘encourages’ their °
key service providers. to® establish’ :200-more full. time at the'mine it.,
= business: and: training, ‘programs ©:
; “ with: the: “Tabltan. “and is; currently
“Hon: ‘mine? ‘could; mean up-to: 350°" ‘in -the® 1.5

contract jobs. ‘Once, operating, ‘the -
mine.-is-expecied “10. create at.’
“least 200 jobs, plus:an: ‘additional:
~ 60: for: inditect: contractors: and” ani

the’ concentrate. “would: be. trucked

: to “Stewart: {the miné- ‘site?is:: 12: kis

lometres. east of ‘Highway’ 37) .
“Construction, of the, $150-mil-

pétimated | 750° spin- -off jobs."
“The: mine: is” located, ‘within ‘the

northwest. of” the. present’ “Eskay

er produce would

~Tahitan’ project: coordinators” we
Environmental: -assessment
work: has- begun. ‘But infrastructure
18; “the most, formidable challenge. bs

“traditional: Tahitan. territory and,

| beMetals’ signed” a “memorandum::;.
of undérstanding with the -Tahitan:
Ls and Askut- First. Nations i in January: :

tain’ to’ “the: More Creck Malley,
‘where a processing’ plant’ and tail ,
“ings: pond would be established:*, .:
From there, they. would follow

‘More: ‘Greek: tothe: Cassiar: High-
way. The. other: Option, which is)

Galore’ reek Copper-Gold. 7
no “road. access: to:
NovaGold : “Resources”. ‘Galore oe
“Creek: ‘project; 75. kilometres.

within. taditional

existing. Eskay Creek: toad:

commencing’ ‘in: 2009. Polloiwing

construction, ‘the. mine “is Janticipa. ..
7 led to creaté up to: 400 direct jobs. ;

work: closely. with. the. Tahltan:

through. a “acier-sapped ts long

“volves” trucking: the ‘ore‘down. a:
oad :parallel to" the. ‘Stikine:-and .:

Iskut: rivers 40 ‘meet. up: with: the:

Klappan Coal:

melres’ ‘northeast’ of Stewart.’

London, Ont.- -based.: Fortune

inérals’ coal: ‘project would. be in: -
cor the Bowser: ‘Basin, ‘about.150 kilo *,

ould” ‘begin as nl :

ith’ Production

and contract “work!

‘to the site also exists..

"as early as 2006. °°
It’s the closest major onal. de-

deposit i in Canada... 2

the - -developing ‘Asian ‘markets,

a day off shipping time. :

. Orice. built, the. mine, éauuld cine

_- Ploy al. least: 300. people.

“Tulsequah Chief Project

_ precious metals mine. would mean -..[-

up:to 350 jobs i in ‘construction and:

self plus. 60: full: lime contractors;

‘metres south of -Atlin’ on “the ‘Faku
‘River, . would, produce, zine, cop-
pet, ‘lead, silver: and ‘gold:

from thé: town: of: Allin, ‘and’ éven-

nt with the’ Taku. River Tlingit.

- MorrisoniHearne Hin”
s Copper-Gald.”

Asia via the’ Port of: Stewart,’ ©

With coal attiacting: interest’ in:

“The. mine, located. 100: kilo-

~ Tetry’ Chandier, said: the ‘company. -
has: récei yed “excellent: Support”

- tually. intends to-enier.into ‘an Im:

“pacts-and” Benefits: Apteemed
“they” need. .and ‘get. politically. ‘involved: with ~

~The Terrace Standard, Wednesoy Apri 28, 2004-A5 _

“AERIAL: surveys conducted here earlier this year: used apparatus to send electromagnet:
. [¢-pulses. into. the ground:and measure: conductivity’ to:find. possible.ore bodies.. Geotech-
"Geophysical: Ltd: did ‘the, work: around, Kalum Lake. for: EAR. Plains: Resources. ‘

. _ years, ‘mary’, ‘for the better.” “However’ Ij'as,'a ‘female: :

ight “ofeway, president, and: Cio. ao
Robin, Goad says CN Rail is,con-
‘sidering extending the. line to. the:
Klappan Site if their. takéover of "=
BC Rail goes ahead. ‘Road | access, -

_. With interestin- the coal indi 7 :

_ stry on the rise andinore than $65. -
million’ of work, completed . on the ©.
site by the. previous. owner, Goad ve
hopes. to have the -mirie operat B.

Goad says shipping out ‘of either: ”
the Stewart or Prince. Rupert ports...
instead of the Vancouver port cuts: i

. ‘Deak ‘Sir:
Although still under court te
Jenge, the’ planned’ reopening of:
Galore’ Creek: has. agieéd <to.. the Tulsequah Chief. underground’

- Located ‘on ‘Babine: Nation: {rae
ditional: territory 65" kilometres...
almost. twice the ‘distance, ins: noftheast of. Smithers. on. the east”.
: side.-of Babine. Lake, this. project: :
~ could “employ-up to» 500. people’.
during the. construction phase, and: -.].
“up 'to-250 while in: operation, eh
The" open: pit mine has a pro-
“jected: lifespan of .10 years. It will
Ship its: “copper-gold concentrate: to a

: : ob/eyn ‘who. follows:

*“Te’s. the blueprint,. ‘certaisly in Canada if . Patent: in the: other facility. »

“Notthe. world, for good: relations: between ‘a-
~ mining company. and. First ,Nalions ‘guys,7"he: J
can be": ‘the - ‘sime ‘thing, potentially,
with the Kalum.”* :
: are: the. key: 10: the: best jobs, his said, hes
re. adding. how: is a. ‘good time for. mative: or non"
S = native: young ‘people. -heré to.
the ‘mining: industry...

e Chursé,” posipartum -nurse: and as a: “pronalal-te ach

: ve centre forthe. delivery’ of, maternal and: irifant: gare

for sticking: through thick: and thin- here, il Terrace. ‘and:
. posit to tide water in North-Amer: ©.
ica and the only. known ‘anthracite’ i

f obsietrician: ‘and more..GPs. delivering’. our’ babies.
also. Junderstand ‘the. “demands. placed” on: them in:

‘[eand: with. 95.per cent. -unemploytnent: there: is little in

: “skipping

/"[-caddress and ‘phone number for: verification..Our: -
Consiruction: could’ begin: as!

“early as 2006, ‘witht production, bee :
Located. along ‘the | BC. Ral Binning | in the fall of 2007... eee

_ CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD.

~The Mail Bag —

- Obstetric care top notch

“Dear Sir:

; 1 airi'acnurse who as’ worked labour. and: dativer)
“in! Terrace for: 13 of my’20, ycars here, T found Ms.-

] Franecise-Godet’s April 7,-2004° letter’to: the. ‘editor in:

The, Terrace Standard very: disturbing. -She-asks: many.

|} questions, some: of which’T: hope t tobe: able to: ‘address:

-From'teading Ms. Godet’s letter,” one: would: get the.

impression, that, because. Dr. Kruger’ has left town, 3: ©
women of. Tertace. and: the: Surrounding | areas have no

0 options, for quality: obstetrical: ‘and:g ynecological alte, a

“This-is. simply. nal. true.”

th,

qualified, “Canadian trained;.
é Casadian- ‘guidelines. for. ;
standards ‘of care.’ ‘She ‘provides - a variety of services: 8
“to. deal with all: reproductive. health: Issues. “She has.
dedicated the better part -of. the last 24. year to this. .
“community, We are lucky: to-have her. S _
“Y¥es,-we- shave’: ‘lost -Iwo-: ‘ab/gyns in the past: five: Ve)
years.’ They are ‘not “the ‘only: specialists who,have’ left, 7 2
The demands .put ‘on ‘specialists. in the: northwest are fs
atrocious, - They: may’ be son. call : 24: hours’ a: ‘day, oe
several days a week. ‘Larger ' centres: don’ t. expect’ hear.
‘as: much: from ‘their: ‘Spécialists. Now you. tell’ me; ~~
| “which: one would you pick? Wlio- could blame them _
“for wanting. to'leave and’ Jead-a-‘inére- normal, lifes."
This’ is: also ‘true: for. our: general ‘practitioners... +.)
Obstetrics is: not-a-9 ‘to. $: kind: of. job.-.No® one. can re
redict, when a:-woman- will j -go'in to labour.” >
- Gone are the. days of all -general: practitioners: doing
deliveries. ‘They. have choices. now, ‘too: ‘Many: of them). ":
are: opting ‘out-of: doing: deliveries. Most. of them’ havi
young ‘families of thei? own. They: are: family member
first, and ‘doctors: ‘second.
“High insurance “costs might’ be. another. factor OF ;
how. ‘about. lack, : of. ‘experience? ” Some general a
practitioners just aren'l comfortable “enough in: their":
bilities jn ‘the labour room. ~~. ; a
“Whatever® their’ ‘Feasons ‘may: “he,” ‘we: “must respect."
their: decision. This: just isn't: ‘happening - ‘in “Terrace, ~ ;
but-in‘comimunities- all over: the? province. So ‘Terrac ms _
‘| sis nol the only: ‘one with, a A black: eye ‘as. Ms, Godet ©
. would imply. ~ : a
| JAS for the: ‘health of women, ‘and babies being top: a
“priority, this -has always been’ the’ case’ in: Terrace,’ * ws
There: has been: the occasional: time when ‘we have: tid ,
_ obstetrical. coverage: for, caesareans, Al these. times:
we" make" alternate:: Jarrangeménts: ‘in:neighbouring:

. conimiutities, This is ‘reciprocal. ‘The ‘only’ ‘difference. .'

ig. that: we ‘often: supply - the. nurse: to look after the.

Our: hospital: continues: to” ‘have a very dedicated °
obstétrician, dedicated physicians, and: very:
dedicated” ‘maternity. and: ‘gynecological. nurses. Pam >.
& Proud to be one of them. 2). ee ne
. ~~ Sheri Metealte. R Terrie, BC.

| S Don’t scare people |
" Dear. ‘Sirs. cae -
oT have’ had’ ihe! privilege ‘of 23 years‘

-thanki you: fof that ‘privilege: “L-have ince moved: onto...
: other: ‘areas of nursing. ae aoa
The: April, 7, 2004' Francuise Godet: ‘etter: two.
weeks: ‘ago. ‘regarding GP. caesarean delivery. concerns. .
‘me: This community-is-known.as:a ‘forward. thinking

AV is itue ‘there have" beén many: changes’ over: the |

‘|. health ‘care consumer; did not feel. informed. after: vo
reading. this ‘letter: but: ‘fearful, ‘At-a’ ‘time: “when a. A
woman is'the most yulnerable - -(when she: iS: pregnant)
; “is ‘not the’ time to:be fearmongering: .. -
oo Jowas eft with. the. sensé that we ‘have: jnedequate- a
obstetrical: coverage: after:-thé, leaving of- Dr. Kruger. It, --
“is important’ ‘that the \ women. ‘of Terrace: know thal ‘we -;
have: al-our service: Dr: Lani: Almas. In my many yeais.
“of experience “both. professionally. ‘and personally: Iam"
-so thankful ‘that “we: have here in Terrace’ a. female-
“ob/gyn. She" has: dedicated “her entire. thédical caréer®
“to usi; Her! family’ and. her: life’ are. here: in: ‘Terrace. Her
“expertise: dnd dedication are -at dur -disposaland: have-:-
‘| been:since' I atrived:in 1980, ‘Thank You, Dr. Almas, °

= for, your: “contribution: to- the. ‘health: of -women and,
families i in’our community. or
“agree: that : it- would | be. ideal’ to. Have aioth r:

offering: this service. There 3 are. no easy. answers. a8 (o-*

“haw to increase this: sérvice: However the answers do:

“not lie in: efeating | fear: for ‘those most; vulnerable.- : -
: : _ Cathy. Broadway, RN, Terraces, B.C

. Make children first.

‘Government's task’ ig. 40. improve . ihe. ‘lives: 6f
*children: with programs and: ‘Opportunities but we: still.
have too-many,childien: living in.poverty-Government:”
‘|-needs to ‘recognize that: healthy’ school. budgets - ‘that
“include supplies, . food: programs, equipment.and books.
- can not be. squeezed out by inadequate funding. ** me
1.o/.We.as. individuals also. avé -an- important: role: to...

“play” with: this: ‘problem: by. getting, involved. with -
“individual ; acts of. kindness. such as. donating to one of.
“the many * schools: in| our ‘conimunities with: times,

money, ahd ‘equipment. ae v
“Pam. presently working in ‘the’ “Kispio: ‘Band ~

ma

"school, ‘They. get: ‘funded; but, of, course never: ‘enough’

unity” for’ these. children, ‘Why isi tha
pes, balls ‘dnd’ hodps are a’ luxury?’
Get. involved: by: finding out from’ the. schools whal -

-the’ c

advocating for: our schoals, Each. child,’ needs: ‘the. Mee!
“society caring: ‘for. theni: or ‘how will they. care for US,
tomorrow? “It takes d whole. village’ ‘to ‘raise a-child.”
: Poca Darissa, Tarwiek, Terriiee, B. c :

About the Mail Bag

> The: Terrace Standard: ‘welcomes: letters. Our:
: addréss is. 3210: Clinton St., cTerrace,: B.C.. 8G".
 BR2. You can fax. us. ‘at 250- 638-8432.:or- ‘@- ‘mall.

us-at hewsroom@ terracestandard, cam:..No:
"attachments, . please, We’ ‘need your “name,”

. deadline :Is-noorn. Fnvay, or ‘noon, Thursday Mt We rc:
. {ong, weekend. :