Saturday November 22, 2025 | QUESNEL, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The BC Conservatives have issued a statement about the death of a contract worker at a mine in the BC northeast.
Taseko Mines Limited owns and operates the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine, located in north-central British Columbia. Taselo says it is the second largest open-pit copper mine in Canada and the largest employer in the Cariboo region.
“We are saddened to hear the news today from Taseko Mines Limited of the death of a contract worker at Gibraltar copper mine north of Williams Lake. Our deepest condolences go out to the worker’s family, friends, and colleagues as they grieve this devastating loss. The incident at Taseko Mines Limited Gibraltar copper mine is the second worker death at a BC mine in as many days. Workplace fatalities are preventable,” it was stated in a BC Conservative news release today.
However, the cause of the death is not yet known.
The BC Conservatives statement was issued by three MLAs: Sheldon Clare (Prince George – North Cariboo) and the official opposition’s deputy whip; Lorne Doerkson (Cariboo-Chilcotin) Assistant Deputy Speaker of the House; and Pete Davis (Kootenay-Rockies) who is the Official Opposition Critic for Mining, Critical Minerals and Columbia Treaty.
“The priority now must be a thorough and transparent investigation by Taseko Mines Limited, WorkSafeBC, the RCMP, BC Coroners Service, and the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals to learn exactly what happened, and to minimize future risk.”
“Workers in the Cariboo and across the province deserve to know that when they go to work, they will return home safely.”
About the incident:
Taseko Mines Ltd says the incident occurred in an active mining area and was discovered around 5 pm on Friday. No further injuries have been reported.
Taseko Mines says it has halted operations to allow for an investigation.
The company said that RCMP and the BC Coroners Service were on scene. The Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals was also been notified, the company said.
Second mining fatality:
The November 21 Taseko Mines incident is the second workplace fatality at a BC mine in the last few days.
On November 20 a 39-year-old man went missing at the Elk Valley Resources coal mine in Sparwood, and his remains found the next day. Glencore Canada confirmed the man was a contracted employee who was doing maintenance at the time of the incident.
Ministry statement:
As of this evening, there is no statement yet from the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals.
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NEWS SECTIONS: MINING & CRITICAL MINERALS