Vancouver mining firm's Kristi Noem hire sparks backlash from residents
NovaRed Mining announced Kristi Noem joined its advisory board, triggering immediate criticism from Vancouverites over her ties to Trump and controversial rhetoric.
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A Vancouver-based mining firm's decision to hire controversial American Kristi Noem has triggered fierce backlash from residents since the announcement earlier this week.
NovaRed Mining said Noem, who previously served as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and now works as a special envoy to the Shield of the Americas, joined the NovaRed Mining Advisory Board. The company described her as having "extensive experience spanning economic development, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, national security, and public-private collaboration."
Noem stated in a company release: "I look forward to supporting the company's strategic objectives. In an increasingly competitive global environment, secure and reliable access to critical minerals has become an important economic and national security priority."
Reaction was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Many Vancouverites pointed to Noem's past references to Canada as the "51st state" and other controversial positions. Others invoked her past killing of a hunting dog, with one Reddit user writing, "Hide your dogs, residents of B.C."
"Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will Kristi Noem be welcomed in Canada," one reader wrote. "NovaRed is making us Canadians SEE RED & we WON'T accept her, we won't welcome her."
Some questioned the company's legitimacy. NovaRed's initial email contact bounced when reached by media, though the firm said it would respond to further inquiries.