TWO more pieces in the picture of how the northwest stands to benefit from resource development fell into place last week.
One came in the form of revenue sharing deals between the provincial government and the Tahltan Central Council. The council will receive nearly $300,000 a year from water and land rents being paid by AltaGas to the province for the latter’s McLymont Creek and Volcano Creek run-of-river power projects.
The second came to light with news the Nisga’a Lisims Government is speaking with the province about revenue sharing concerning Avanti Mining’s proposed $1 billion molybdenum mine at Kitsault.
The Tahltan deal is not surprising as it is on top of one providing $2.5 million annually in water and land rents from the much larger Forrest Kerr run-of-river project also owned by AltaGas.
More surprising are the talks between the Nisga’a and the province because the Nisga’a, citing environmental and socio-economic concerns, last year took the province to court seeking an order to suspend the provincial environmental approval certificate given Avanti.
That court case is now adjourned, leading to speculation there’s a connection between that and the revenue sharing talks. Provided the talks produce a deal that satisfies Nisga’a concerns, a steady income stream can only benefit the Nisga’a and the rest of the region.
