Leaders demand inquiry into aluminium industry

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Native leaders in northwest British Columbia are demanding a full-scale investigation into the regional's aluminium industry and fears industrial development is destroying essential salmon runs.

"Everything is at stake here. Hopefully we'll see good results," said Tl'azt'en

chief Carrier and Sekani nations for an inquiry into Alcan's Kemano completion project.

Recently released environmental studies from the project-commonly known

as Kemano II - reviews five years ago -support aboriginal concerns about potential environmental damage, chiefs say.

In press statements, the bands have accused Ottawa and the provincial and federal governments of hiding information that may have held back the $1 billion project.

Ottawa signed a deal with Alcan and the province, called the Kemano Settlement Agreement, in 1987. It cleared that path for the hydroelectric project that will supply power for Alcan's smelter at Kitimat. The federal government also exempted the plan from an environmental review.

"If the documents had been available in 1987, the public would have been astounded by the whitewash presented by the provincial and federal government," said Cheslatta chief Marvin Charlie.

"Canadians were misled into believing Kemano II would not impact the salmon and freshwater fishery. But the fact is, there has been a major cover-up regarding scientific data."

Chiefs in the region fear the completion of Alcan's Kemano aluminium projects

will lead to sharp reductions in the Nechako River's water flow, devastating the chinook and sockeye stocks.

In media statement, they say the federal fisheries department estimates potential salmon production on the Nechako is more than 30 million fish, about 10 times current production levels. They also claim that flows will be reduced to 13 per cent of the natural level in the river, which is the rearing channel for millions of salmon and other game fish.

British Columbia's NDP government is planning a review. It has appointed a lawyer to go over Alcan's agreements and advise the cabinet on how to proceed.

But Carrier-Sekani chiefs say a provincial investigation will not go far enough. They are demanding a full federal-provincial judicial inquiry where witnesses will give testimony under oath.

"It has become clear from recently released documents that the Kamano Settlement Agreement was made for political, not scientific reasons," Carrier-Sekani

tribal chief Justa Monk said in a media release.

"It has become clear from recently released documents that the Kemano Settlement Agreement was made for political, not scientific reasons," Carrier-Sekani

tribal chief Justa Monk said in a media release.

The chiefs are also asking for an "interim measure" to prevent environmental damage until an inquiry is conducted.