Andrew Weaver: A Climate for Hope
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BC Government Silent on Mount Polley

September 22, 2014 By Andrew Weaver 4 comments Environment, Media, Media Release, Mining

Media Statement: September 22, 2014
BC Government Silent on Mount Polley

For Immediate Release

Victoria B.C. – Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay – Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party, is calling on the B.C. Government to take immediate steps to address growing concerns about the lack of response to the short-term environmental and economic impacts stemming from the Mount Polley tailings pond breach.

“The Mount Polley tailings pond breach happened over a month and a half ago,” said Andrew Weaver. “Yet local residents are still being kept in the dark about what their government and Imperial Metals are doing to remedy the immediate economic and environmental fall-out from the incident.”

So far the government has only provided information on its monitoring efforts and its commitment to determining the cause of the breach. Local residents are concerned that the government is not doing enough to address more immediate issues, such as financial support for affected families or reclamation of impacted areas.

Andrew Weaver visited the Scwepemc Sacred Fire during his August 28th trip to the region. The Sacred Fire, which was lit on August 18th near the entrance to the mine site, has becomes a community gathering point for those affected to voice their concerns.

“I had an opportunity to hear from people about what they believe needs to be done” said Andrew Weaver. “What I heard more than anything is that residents do not trust that the BC government or Imperial Metals are doing what is necessary to address their concerns. We need to change that.”

Since Andrew Weaver returned from Mount Polley more than three weeks ago, these concerns have continued to grow. His office has received correspondence from residents of Likely, BC, who remain concerned that they have still not heard what steps the BC Government is taking to address the more immediate concerns.

“The fact is, residents of the Mount Polley region shouldn’t have to approach an MLA from Vancouver Island to get answers from the government about what is happening to their region. This is a clear sign that more needs to be done.”

A full report of Andrew Weaver’s trip to the Likely, BC region can be found on his website:  http://www.andrewjweaver.ca/2014/09/10/mount-polley-breach-here/

Media Contact
Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
mat.wright@leg.bc.ca
1 250 216 3382

4 Comments

  1. Dave-
    September 23, 2014 at 9:09 am

    Andrew: Local residence are not being kept in the dark, all the info you need is on these two web pages.

    Imperial metals Info:
    http://www.imperialmetals.com/s/Mt_Polley_Update.asp?ReportID=671041
    MoE info:
    http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/eemp/incidents/2014/mount-polley/

    • Andrew Weaver-
      September 23, 2014 at 10:58 am

      Hello Dave, I am aware of the links. But what I think people are looking for is a plan. The Ministry of Environment appears to be doing a fine job monitoring the water but where is the Ministry of Energy and Mines? What is the plan moving forward? No one can point me to it and at this juncture the government looks a bit like a deer stuck in headlights.

  2. Josh Lammi-
    September 23, 2014 at 2:55 am

    The “sacred fire” has been out for over three weeks. The report released by the group was plagued with inaccurate information and was a farce at best. Likely residents have weekly meetings regarding the response measures taken and any who are left in the dark seeking information from you would be better off beating their heads off a wall given you seem blind to the progress made.