Government apologises to First Nations, then approves the Sacred Headwaters as a toxic waste dump
The federal government is quietly and secretly authorising mining companies to use pristine lakes as toxic waste dumps. Environmentalists, First Nations, and all sensible people are calling out what amounts to a hidden subsidy to the mining companies: they get to dump untreated and poisonous waste in public water, then walk away when the mine closes.
under a little-known subsection known as Schedule Two of the mining effluent regulations, federal bureaucrats can redefine lakes as "tailings impoundment areas."
The mining companies, of course, claim that it is the best option and that jobs will be created. They do not mention the jobs that will be lost as the lakes are destroyed and fishing is no longer possible. They claim using lakes as a waste dump is perfectly safe.
In northern B.C., Imperial Metals plans to enclose a remote watershed valley to hold tailings from a gold and copper mine. The valley lies in what the native Tahltan people call the "Sacred Headwaters" of three major salmon rivers. It also serves as spawning grounds for the rainbow trout of Kluela Lake, which is downstream from the dump site.
This is shameful behaviour for a party that claimed they would clean up pollution and politics.
CBC article on the subject: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/16/condemne...
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Dumping mining waste into water 'more responsible': fishery min
The Liberals oppose destroying the lakes, but are ok with the toxic waste being dumped `somewhere,` preferably a human-made structure. How long this structure will last, of course, and whether it will ever leak, they do not discuss. How about treating the `waste` as a resource and extracting anything useful (and harmful) from it?
"Any damage done in relation to fish or fish habitat has to be mitigated where there is no net loss to either fish or fish habitat. There is a major environmental study done before any go-ahead is given," he said, adding that "every aspect is covered" before anybody could be in a position to damage the environment.
How exactly there is no "net loss to either fish or fish habitat," given that dumping the waste into the lake kills the fish and destroys the habitat, the minister did not explain.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/17/lakes-mi...
Brian Gordon
Nominated Candidate, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca
Green Party of Canada
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