By Michaela Garstin, Similkameen Spotlight, February 14, 2012

Princeton’s population dropped two per cent from 2006 to 2011.

There were 2,724 people living in Princeton in 2011, compared to 2,780 in 2006, according to Statistics Canada information released last week.

This population decrease came as a surprise to many Princeton residents who thought the opening of Copper Mountain Mine would bring more people to town.

By Ben Christopher, Feb 14, 2012, TheTyee.ca

Premier Clark touts mining as her jobs machine. But a lot of those hires may be foreign say eager firms and concerned unions.

Last July, a small mining company headquartered in downtown Vancouver made an announcement that meant more jobs could be coming to B.C.

John Snyder, Comox Valley Echo, February 07, 2012

RE: "Pull together to create more jobs, says Minister" ( CV Echo February 3, 2012)

Neil Buchan, Comox Valley Echo, February 07, 2012

Jobs? You've got to be raven.

One of the great points in selling coal mines, asbestos and indeed any mining operation has been massive job creation. This is echoed ad nausea.

A headline in Monday's Feb.6th. Globe and Mail, page B3 shows this job cry to be an empty anachronism.

News Release, Water Dragon Alliance, January 22, 2012

Over 400 people showed up in Buckley Bay on Saturday, in support of a festive outdoor anti-coal rally called, "Solidarity -Not Compliance!"

An entourage of almost 100 islanders accompanied a twenty foot-long Chinese New Year's dragon off the Denman ferry at 1:00 pm. Cheered on by folks attending from as far away as Vancouver, Victoria, Port Alberni and Campbell River, the dragon was greeted at the nearby rally site by musicians, and a giant raven bearing a placard that read, "Ravens opposed to Coal!"

Jesse Gentes, Comox Valley Record, January 12, 2012

Dear editor,

I respond to Susan Auchterlonie's (director, college and community relations at North Island College) recent attempt to "correct the assumption of a correlation between North Island College receiving funds to offer an underground mining program and the potential coal project at Fanny Bay."

Alice De Wolff, Comox Valley Echo, December 27, 2011

So it begins. The announcement that NIC (North Island College) will receive $323,028 for an underground mining program is the first indication that the provincial government is not only supporting, but is prepared to use my tax dollars to subsidize the proposed Raven Coal mine.

Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail, Nov. 10, 2011

On Dec. 22, 1854, the Snuneymuxw people signed a treaty that provided them with 668 blankets. In exchange, British settlers got to mine the rich coal seam in their territory.

By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, November 11, 2011

A northeast British Columbia first nation chief confirmed Thursday that it rejects an $860-million, China-financed coal mine that was championed this week by Premier Christy Clark during her trade mission to Asia.

Rich Coleman and Vaughn Palmer, Voice of BC, Oct 27, 2011

Minister of Energy, Mines and Housing talks to Vaughn Palmer about an array of interesting topics about electricity, natural gas, shale gas, mining, smart meters, carbon neutrality, deferral accounts, BC's GHG.
 

News Release, BC NDP, October 24, 2011

NDP environment critic Rob Fleming Saturday urged MLA Don McRae to defend local shellfish jobs and finally speak out about the proposal for a massive underground coalmine in Comox Valley.

Lynne Wheeler, Times Colonist, October 24, 2011

I read with interest the article on protecting the southern Strait of Georgia as a marine conservation area. While I applaud this move, I believe governments should protect all of the strait.

By Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, September 28, 2011

AP ran a great story yesterday about the coming decline of the coal industry in Appalachia that I fear is not going to get nearly the attention it deserves. Because if you think about this story seriously for more than 30 seconds, you will come to see that it has huge implications not only for future U.S. energy policy but also for the coming presidential election.

Brian Kieran, Monday Magazine, 09/28/2011

"Having observed the provincial government duck for cover in the face of lesser environmental opposition, I think it is a safe bet that the Raven mine will not be one of the eight [mines] approved by 2015 — if ever."

Bloomberg, The Japan Times, July 17, 2011

Itochu Corp., the nation's largest trader of coal for power stations, is seeking to invest in mines in Russia, Canada and Indonesia to tap rising global demand as the Fukushima nuclear disaster fuels a search for energy alternatives.

By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun, July 8, 2011

A public office entrusted with monitoring environmental compliance in multi-billion-dollar industrial projects around the province is not doing its job, a scathing report by the Auditor General of B.C. said Thursday.

BY JUDITH LAVOIE, Times Colonist, July 7, 2011

Environmental Assessment Office failing to watch for harm: report

B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office is failing to adequately monitor major projects such as mines, power plants and tourist resorts, says B.C. auditor general John Doyle.

In a highly critical report, released Thursday, Doyle said the EAO, which is supposed to provide oversight of major projects, cannot assure the public that it is guarding against harmful environmental impacts from projects that have been approved.

WENDY STUECK, Globe and Mail, Jul. 07, 2011

A provincial watchdog agency that oversees projects such as dams, mines and power plants is not doing enough to monitor and regulate projects it has approved, says a report by British Columbia Auditor-General John Doyle.

John M. Baxter and P.geol (ret), Comox Valley Echo, July 08, 2011

A letter to Rachel Shaw, Environmental Assessment Office:

By Calvin Sandborn and Maya Stano, Times Colonist, July 2, 2011

Province failing in inspections and enforcement to protect environment

The current mining boom is sparking controversy across British Columbia. On Vancouver Island, a debate rages over a proposed Fanny Bay coal mine. First Nations have sued to suspend northeast coal exploration that threatens caribou. The plan to drain and kill Fish Lake triggered massive public resistance.

Reasonable people can disagree on the merits of particular mine projects.

But most British Columbians would be shocked to discover just how weak our mine regulatory system has become.

There is an urgent need to reform this environmental protection regime.

By Ben Christopher, The Tyee, June 10, 2011

An environmental group is raising concerns about the review process for a proposed coal mine on eastern Vancouver Island, despite assurances from the province.

Christopher Pollon, The Tyee, May 23, 2011

The coming mining boom in BC's northwest has critics wondering if current clean-up and enforcement plans are enough. Special report with photo essay.

Acid rock drainage from an advanced exploration site at Brucejack Lake in northwest B.C, September 2010

By Edward John, 30 Mar 2011, TheTyee.ca

While industry touts quick bonanzas, First Nations seek environmentally and culturally sustainable projects.

First Nations in British Columbia are calling for changes to the way mining is managed. We have seen the reports about how Canada is rich in resources, how mining is necessary to a prosperous future, and how certainty of process is essential.

DAVID EBNER, Globe and Mail, Mar. 30, 2011

A Chinese group is making a $1-billion bet on coal in British Columbia to secure a key raw material for its steel making industry, the latest in a series of moves this year by international companies to stake a claim on Canadian resources.