Earlier this week, we shared that a Vancouver-based mining firm had hired controversial American Kristi Noem, who has active ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since the news broke, residents have had many opinions on the hiring, and a vast majority are extremely upset about the move.
NovaRed Mining is based in Vancouver, and earlier this week, it announced that Noem joined the NovaRed Mining Advisory Board. Noem is no longer the U.S. secretary of homeland security but serves as a special envoy to the Shield of the Americas.
Among the many negative reactions to the news, some pointed out the fact that Noem was one of the people who referred to Canada as the 51st state.
“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,” Noem said in a release.
NovaRed’s initial release stated, “Ms. Noem is an American public policy leader, executive, and former senior government official with extensive experience spanning economic development, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, national security, and public-private collaboration.”
It added, “Over the course of her career, she has served as Governor of South Dakota, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, providing her with broad experience in government affairs, strategic planning, regulatory matters, stakeholder engagement, and large-scale organizational leadership.”
Some Daily Hive Vancouver readers were particularly upset by the news.
“Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will Kristi Noem be welcomed in Canada. NovaRed is making us Canadians SEE RED & we WON’T accept her, we won’t welcome her, one reader said, adding that the news was “absolutely disgusting.”
Folks were not mincing their words about the hiring.
“Get that traitor out of our country. You disgusting piece of garbage, leave now,” said another reader.
The conversation also spread to social media, including several Reddit threads.
Someone rhetorically asked, “From the country that wants our rare earth minerals?”
“Hide your dogs, residents of B.C.,” said another Redditor, referencing the time that Noem shot and killed a dog.
Some are suggesting that the company is a scam.
“Yeah, that company is shady. Their website looks like it’s built in a way to attract gullible investors to buy their stocks,” one response theorized.
“Geez. That seems like a massive mistake,” someone else said.
We attempted to reach NovaRed Mining about some of the blowback, but the email bounced. We’ve contacted the mining firm again and are waiting to hear back.