KITIMAT MAINTAINS RIGHT TO APPEAL COURT

Kitimat, BC – The District of Kitimat (Kitimat) has filed a leave to appeal application with the British Columbia (B.C.) Court of Appeal regarding the B.C. Supreme Court’s March 28, 2007 decision that concluded there is no restriction on what Alcan does with electricity generated with the Nechako and Kemano river systems.



Kitimat Mayor Richard Wozney says Alcan and Kitimat’s Council have held initial discussions on the future of Alcan’s Kitimat smelter, but have not yet seen enough info rmation to make a decision on whether to proceed with an appeal.



“We are negotiating in good faith and with reasonable objectives,” says Mayor Wozney, “but we must protect the legal rights of our citizens. We are keeping the option of appeal open, just as Alcan and BC Hydro did back in January with the BCUC decision.”



Alcan has made proceeding with a smelter modernization contingent on three conditions: a successful negotiation with its CAW workers, a successful envi ron mental assessment for the project and favourable terms for power sales with BC Hydro. Mayor Wozney says none of these have been completed, nor has council seen any info rmation on the negotiations between Alcan and the Province, so it would be premature to let the option of appeal lapse.



“We are looking forward to continuing the talks with Alcan,” says Wozney, “and we are working hard to come to a successful resolution for Alcan, Kitimat and the entire Northwest region. We hope Alcan is as committed to these talks as we are.”