Poll a Transparent and Weak Attempt to Manipulate Federal Cabinet

WILLIAMS LAKE, BC, Oct. 18 /CNW/ - A poll printed by the Williams Lake Tribune last week in support of the proposed Prosperity Mine is a failed attempt at manipulation, and demonstrates that the campaign to destroy Teztan Biny ( Fish Lake ) and its environs is on shaky ground, the Tsilhqot'in National Government said today.

"It is clear from the facts that this is a poll that was commissioned with the hope of obtaining results that showed overwhelming support for this project, and it is equally clear that it backfired," said Chief Joe Alphonse, TNG Tribal Chairman, Tl'etinqoxt'in Government.

In fact, it is surprising that having sat on these poll results for three months, the Tribune would risk releasing them at this late stage, with a federal government ruling pending," said Chief Alphonse.

The TNG pointed out the following facts regarding the poll:

• It was conducted by a boutique firm which boasts: "We know what questions to ask, but more importantly, we know how to analyze the results to help our clients win."
• It was conducted three months ago, before much of the negative information about the project was widely known or considered in the targeted communities.
• It was commissioned by a paper that has been adamant in its editorial promotion of this mine.
• It surveyed a mere 200 people - 100 from Williams Lake (pity population 11.150, market area 25.120) and another 100 from 100 Mile House. These were the two towns that had been inundated with promises of jobs and economic activity.
• It did not survey anyone else in the affected region.  First Nations and non-aboriginals who actually live in the area that would be destroyed and who depend on the lakes and lands that would vanish were not polled.

Despite all these efforts to guarantee resounding support for the mine, the poll still found that one third of respondents were opposed to the mine and 55% were concerned about the negative environmental impacts.

"We can only presume that a poll today would demonstrate even weaker support for the mine from Williams Lake and 100 Mile House," said  Xeni Gwet'in Chief Marilyn Baptiste, of the Tsilhqot'in Nation. "Otherwise, surely the Tribune would have commissioned a new poll, rather than publishing an extremely weak and outdated poll that was not deemed fit enough to have been printed when it was conducted three months ago."

Chief  Baptiste said: "The poll focused solely on two towns where the mining company has focussed most of its efforts to attract support. We are convinced that if a poll were done of the entire region and all the population that would be affected, there would be a strong majority in opposition to the project. Presumably the pollsters were convinced of this too, which is why most of the region was excluded.

"Anyone can see through  this study for what it is - a belated attempt to use old material from a carefully planned, but not entirely successful survey in a last ditch attempt to persuade the federal government to approve this proposed mine," said Chief Baptiste.

Chief Alphonse added: "This poll in no way gives federal Cabinet any reason to reconsider its constitutional, legal and moral duties to reject this proposed mine because of its proven drastic and unacceptable impacts it would have on the environment and First Nations rights. If anything it should reinforce Cabinet's resolve to honour these duties. As time goes by we are getting calls from people who do not want to see this mine go through. People are increasingly showing their support."

For further information:

Media inquiries:  Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chair, TNG: 250.305.8282 (c) or 250.394.4212 (w) Chief Marilyn Baptise: 250.267.1401 (c) or 250.394.7023 ext. 202 (w)