Update: We're heading to the Canadian Mine Ministers Conference on August 14th, 2017 to deliver a message to our ministers to hold Imperial Metals to account for this disaster and enact the Fisheries Act.
Original petition text from March 2017:
Almost three years ago, Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley Mine spilt 25 million cubic metres of toxic waste into pristine Quesnel Lake, one of deepest lakes in the world. The lake is home to multiple fish species, and supplies drinking water to local communities.
Right now, the federal government is trying to let Imperial Metals off the hook for the largest mining waste spill in Canadian history -- but we’re not going to let that happen.
Mount Polley is a textbook case of corporate negligence. Multiple independent and government reports found the mine waste site was poorly constructed and operated, yet Imperial Metals faced no fines or sanctions and didn’t even have to pay the full cost of cleanup. Instead, British Columbians picked up the tab.
Tell Trudeau's government not to let Imperial Metals off the hook. Enforce the Fisheries Act now!
The 2014 spill destroyed or damaged massive swaths of fish habitat that is supposed to be protected under the national Fisheries Act. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to usher in a new era of protection for Canadian waterways. We need to hold him to that promise. And that means he needs to push forward with criminal charges against Imperial Metals.
Not only has Imperial Metals escaped scot-free after overseeing the worst mining disaster in Canadian history, it was granted permission to open the even bigger Red Chris mine in northern B.C by the B.C. government. Why do we have governments and regulations for if we can’t use them to hold corporations to account?
Canada is a world superpower in the mining industry and its record of neglect, shoddy practices and environmental devastation is one of the most underreported stories in the media. That’s why SumOfUs supporters have always stood up against its abuses.
Hundreds of thousands of us have fought mining companies trying to build destructive mines. We’ve called on Newmont Mining to stop its development in Peru, and on Rio Tinto to pull out of its investment in Pebble Mine in Alaska. To date, neither mine has been built -- showing that when we stand together, we can stop mining companies from destroying our ecosystem, and local communities.
Join us and demand that the Government of Canada hold Imperial Metals responsible for the biggest mining disaster in Canadian history.
More information
CBC News. 27 March 2017.
Mining Watch.
Huffington Post. 8 March 2016.
Tyee. 5 August 2016.
MiningWatch. 13 January 2017.
Desmog.ca. 13 January 2017.