The
Conservative government brushed off allegations that there may have
been a leak from the federal government on the pending denial of a
Taseko Mines Ltd. project, prompting unusual share trading activity
during a mid-October session.

John Baird, the government House
leader, said his Liberal opponents — who alleged in the House of
Commons that “Conservative insiders” leaked information that may have
benefited certain shareholders — are engaging in “pure speculation.”

Unusual
trading in Taseko occurred in mid-October. On Nov. 2, the federal
Minister of Environment said Taseko’s Prosperity mine project could not
be granted authorizations to proceed.

Baird said before the
federal decision, there was a “publicly available” environmental
assessment on the Prosperity project that recommended Ottawa reject its
development “because it would cause irreparable harm” to the
environment.

The proposed Taseko operation — dubbed the
Prosperity Mine — was planned for a wilderness area about 120
kilometres southwest of Prince George in B.C.’s northern interior.
Promoters touted it as one of the world’s largest gold and copper
plays.

Baird declined to answer Liberal questions about whether
the government was conducting its own internal investigation into the
possibility of a leak, and if the RCMP had been called in to assist in
the probe.

Initial media reports indicated that the unusual trading activity coincided with a cabinet meeting held on Oct. 14.

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