Vancouver’s Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO) has lost tandem judicial review applications to the Federal Court of Canada over the federal government’s rejection of the company’s New Prosperity Mine near Williams Lake.
The proposed $1.5 billion open-pit copper-gold mine project was rejected twice by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
Taseko filed two judicial reviews with the Federal Court, one against a decision by the Ministry of Environment and Governor in Council, and the other against a review panel report.
On December 5, the court dismissed the applications and ordered Taseko to pay the court costs to the Tsilhqot’in First Nation, which has been at the centre of the controversy, and the Government of Canada.
The Tsilhqot’in are bitterly opposed to the mine project, which lies just outside territory which the Supreme Court of Canada in 2014 recognized as Tsilhqot’in territory.