Yancoal’s proposed potash mine north of Southey, Sask. has been a point of contention in the community for a long time.
Feeling their concerns haven’t been properly addressed, opponents brought their issues to the legislature on Wednesday.
About 75 residents from the area gathered to share concerns about the water supply, potential impact on their farms, and the social impact. Speakers from the Havelock Special Projects Committee (HSPC) repeatedly said their quality of life has been impacted due to stress and a resulting lack of sleep.
The HSPC also said the project approval process is “broken”.
“We need to meet with the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Economy, and the Premier,” HSPC member Thera Nordal said.
“The people who make the decisions on this process, because they need to hear how broken it is.”
Nordal said Yancoal has “exploited” the process, but the province said everything has been very standard at this point.
READ MORE: Environmental group urges caution in ‘fast-tracking’ proposed potash mine north of Regina
A Ministry of Environment official, Sharla Hordenchuk, said they’ve gone over five potash mine proposals in recent years, and nothing stands out with the Yancoal proposal.
Hordenchuck is director of the Environmental Assessment and Stewardship department, and said they’re currently reviewing Yancoal’s environmental impact statement (EIS).
The public comment period for the EIS received a 15 day extension to 45 days, and it closed on June 6, 2016.
Community Division
“I’m worried about the division that Yancoal has brought to our community,” Rick Stettner said at Wednesday’s rally.
The HSPC is one of the main groups opposing the mine in its current form. The committee said it is not anti-development, but feels not enough consultation was done in the right way.
However, there are people on the other side of the debate and position lines can run deep.
“We know that it has impacted businesses, in fact negatively for those that are lobbying for it. There’s people now not patronizing those businesses,” HSPC member Neil Wagner said.
But, Last Mountain-Touchwood MLA Glen Hart said he believes most of his constituents are in favour of the mine based on his conversations.
“Surrounding communities, I believe, have passed resolutions supporting the proposed development,” he said.
On June 6, Earl Grey, Sask. councillor Cam Fisher said that he and his colleagues are in favour of the development.
In the Rural Municipality of Mount Hope, council there passed a motion on May 11, 2016 to write a letter of opposition to the mine. They said this is based on concerns surrounding the population, and would like to see the mine site be reconsidered for a less populated area.
The proposed mine site is near the junction of Highway 6 and 731. If all goes well with the application, Chinese-owned Yancoal hopes to begin construction in early 2017.