On the heels of Hudbay Minerals and the B.C. provincial government announcing permit approvals for expanding Copper Mountain Mine, the Similkameen First Nations are blasting the “unilateral” decision.
The Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands issued a shared statement stating they had never given their consent to the proposal and expressing their disappointment with the province’s decision to approve the New Ingerbelle expansion.
The Feb. 23 statement from the bands points out that their previously announced participation agreements with Hudbay Minerals did not give any advance consent to the expansion.
The bands had also previously voiced concerns in December 2025 over the rapid timeline towards the approval that the provincial government was taking with the project.
“In light of the unilateral approval of New Ingerbelle Expansion Proposal by the Province of British Columbia without the prior, fully informed, clear consent of the sməlqmíx, both bands will undertake a full review of the approval conditions and reasons for decision, and assess all available options to ensure that the waters, all living things, and the lands, will be taken care of,” the Feb. 23 release states.
The bands’ renewed cooperation agreements with Hudbay replaced those signed in 2019 and contain, but are not limited to, terms for protection of the Similkameen River, benefits for the community, stability for the ongoing operations at the mine, and structured processes for the bands to work with Hudbay to monitor the mine’s operations and address its impact on the environment.
READ MORE: Similkameen First Nations sign renewed agreements with Copper Mountain Mine
READ MORE: First Nations blast B.C. for ‘hurrying’ Similkameen mine
The bands had also triggered a dispute resolution process over the deadline issue, which had aimed to push it back a few months.
Given the Feb. 20 announcement of the permit approval, it is clear that the accelerated timeline is stuck. The new cooperation agreements included structured processes for addressing the New Ingerbelle Pit expansion.
Over the mine’s extended lifespan, it is projected to produce approximately 750,000 tonnes of copper, 900,000 ounces of gold, and 5.5 million ounces of silver based on current reserves, according to Hudbay’s Feb. 20 release.
The expansion of the mine will see the existing pit extend to within 50 metres of the Similkameen River and to reach a final depth more than 160 metres below river level, making it the first ever allowed to mine below the level of the Similkameen River, and would require the buildup of the tailings dam, already visible from Highway 3, by an additional 63 metres or the equivalent of 19 stories.
The New Ingerbelle pit would extend the Copper Mountain Mine’s operations for several decades.
The mine has been fined for environmental violations, particularly regarding discharges out of its tailings pond, in recent years, including six fines in 2024.
READ MORE: Hudbay says no danger from spills at Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton
In their Feb. 23 statement, the bands noted that the expected life of the mine will be far shorter than the time their people will occupy the valley and have to deal with any future issues.
“The New Ingerbelle Expansion will extend mine life by 15-20 years, while the smǝlqmíx and our neighbours that choose to be here forever, will have to deal with the consequences long after the profits and monies have left the valley,” the bands stated.