xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER
Lawyers with West Coast Environmental Law are responding to today's announcement that federal charges have been laid against Imperial Metals and Mount Polley Mine Corp., more than a decade after the devastating 2014 tailings dam failure at the Mount Polley Mine.
Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer, made the following statement:
We are happy that that charges have finally been laid in one of the worst industrial mining disasters in Canadian history. But this is long overdue. Environmental offenders, and their investors, need to know that there will be consequences that flow quickly and inevitably from their unlawful actions. Communities need to know that their water will be protected from those who harm it.
Better late than never, but a ten-year delay undermines the deterrence message that needs to be sent to other irresponsible mining companies and other polluters, particularly given how few environmental offences actually result in charges.
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For more information, please contact:
Andrew Gage | Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law
604-601-2506, agage@wcel.org