Minister’s rejection of mine improper, Taseko lawyer tells Federal Court

By The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER – A lawyer for Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO) says the federal environment minister acted improperly in rejecting the company’s proposed gold mine in B.C., putting politics before fairness.

The company is asking the Federal Court to convert its two judicial review applications into full legal action saying it wants monetary damages for the minister’s alleged wrongdoing.

Taseko lawyer John Hunter told the court that members of the Tsilhqot’in First Nation met with Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq after an environmental review ended, and then the minister considered a report submitted to her by the First Nation before making her decision.

Lawyers for the federal government say none of the minister’s actions were unlawful.

They argue that the decision was at the discretion of the minister, but Hunter says the company did not get a fair hearing.

The provincial government twice approved Taseko’s proposal to build a gold and copper mine near Williams Lake, B.C., but the federal government rejected the original plan and a revised proposal.

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