Torr Metals (TSXV: TMET) has taken the BC government to court after being denied an exploration permit for its Latham copper project in the Golden Triangle. The company filed for judicial review in the BC Supreme Court.
In early 2022, Torr applied for the permit after engaging with the Tahltan Nation. They spent nearly $2.5 million on exploration and community relations. Despite months of discussions and two signed agreements with the Tahltan Nation, the permit was denied.
The denial came as a surprise, especially since draft permit conditions had been shared and the demand for critical minerals like copper is rising for clean energy technologies and infrastructure development.
Torr alleges that the decision-maker failed to follow legal principles during consultation with the Tahltan Nation and did not balance interests as required by the Supreme Court of Canada.
“We did not want to end up in court but are profoundly concerned with how the permitting process is currently operating in northern British Columbia,” said Torr Metals’ president and CEO Malcolm Dorsey. “It stands in stark contrast to what we have experienced elsewhere in Canada, including our Filion project in northern Ontario, where we recently received our exploration permit.”
The Latham critical minerals project has a long history of exploration dating back to the 1890s. It includes the discovery of the Gnat Pass copper deposit, located next to Highway 37. The highway is set for major upgrades with a $195 million investment from the province and Energy and Natural Resources Canada.
“The government of British Columbia frequently discusses the need for critical minerals, but its actions don’t align with its words,” added Dorsey. “It casts serious doubts on the stability and fairness of the exploration landscape in the region if a company like ours, which has strictly followed all protocols and made substantial accommodations for First Nations, can be denied without proper justification.”
For more information, visit www.TorrMetals.com.
