First Nations groups protest HudBay mine project

A number of First Nations protestors crashed an information session held by HudBay Minerals in Winnipeg Thursday night.

HudBay held the information session at the Holiday Inn on Pembina Highway to address concerns over their proposed Reed Lake Mine.

The mine would be built in northwest Manitoba near Flin Flon.

The Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and representatives from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs as well as the provinces Wilderness Committee held a press conference at the same time and in the same hotel as the information session.

Officials from the groups said the mine will encroach on the land of Grass River Provincial Park and could have a serious impact on caribou herds and water quality in the area.

After the press conference, some protestors moved to the room where the information session was taking place and protested, holding placards and expressing their concerns.

HudBay officials did not make the protestors leave but did say that the environment assessment on the mine has been completed.

They said the environmental assessment will be passed on to provincial officials and if approved, the mine will be built.