Ottawa – Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo, Senator Nancy Greene Raine,  Mayor Peter Milobar of the City of Kamloops and Ronaye Elliott of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, met with Environment Minister Peter Kent today in Ottawa regarding the proposed Ajax mine.

As a result of the meeting Minister Kent offered a guarantee for a thorough review of this project and that the next step is for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to complete their analysis and recommend next steps. The Minister has also committed to visit the Ajax site in the New Year and meet with local citizens.

“In my presentation to Minister Kent today I emphasized that the Minister of the Environment has grounds for referral of an Environmental Assessment to a panel review where there is a clear federal jurisdiction coupled with significant public concern for a panel process.  In my opinion both of these conditions are present,” stated McLeod.

“After meeting with Minister Kent, I have every confidence that the Ajax file is receiving full scrutiny,” said Milobar. “I look forward to continuing to work with Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans around next steps of this process.”

“I’m pleased to share the letter that I hand delivered to Minister Kent at today’s meeting. It clearly outlines my reasoning in this matter,” concluded McLeod.