Gitxaała Nation holds a press conference at the beginning of hearings for intervenor applicants in their legal challenge of the Mineral Tenure Act, on December 15, 2022. (Credit: West Coast Environmental Law)

Court approves environmental organizations’ application to intervene in Gitxaała Nation’s legal case

The B.C. Supreme Court has decided to allow all intervenor applicants to make arguments in the Gitxaała Nation’s legal case against the free-entry mineral claim staking process. This includes our coalition of environmental organizations, as well as other First Nations, Indigenous organizations, mining companies, and the B.C. Human Rights Commission.  “We’re glad to be able… Read more »

Screenshot of the tailings map

A new interactive map of tailings dams in B.C.

Together with SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, we have produced an interactive online map of tailings facilities in B.C. The map provides communities with critical information about the risks posed by billions of cubic metres of toxic wet mine waste, called tailings, stored behind some of the highest dams in the world.

Screenshot of the tailings map

New Analysis Confirms High-Risk, Threats Posed by B.C.’s Booming Mining Sector

Risks escalating due to more frequent catastrophic climate change-related weather events July 14, 2022 The waste created by British Columbia’s accelerating mining boom is a growing threat to communities and watersheds throughout the province, according to a new report released today. The increase in extreme weather events brought on by climate change intensifies this threat:… Read more »

Discarded mining equipment lays on red soil in the foreground, with green hills and cloudy mountains in the background

B.C.’s Auditor General’s progress audit still reveals gaps in mine waste safety and cleanup

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) released a progress audit on major mines, six years after the OAG released a scathing report on compliance and enforcement in the mining sector. While it is great to see some progress, the recent audit did not assess all recommendations from the 2016 report, and there are still gaps to adequately protect the environment and communities. 

Two workers wearing fluorescent yellow vests look out over the catastrophic damage after the collapse of the Vale tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil.

Updated guidelines on responsible mine waste management

Earthworks, MiningWatch Canada, and the London Mining Network have released an updated version of their Safety First guidelines for improving the management of mine waste disposal facilities, also known as tailings dams. The guidelines were updated as tailings dams around the world are failing with increasing frequency and severity, a risk expected to increase with climate-related extreme weather events.

An aerial photo of the Bell Mine in the Lake Babine Nation Territory

Progress on ensuring polluters pay

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation has released an interim policy on mine reclamation bonding, detailing the financial security mines are required to pay up front to cover the costs of reclamation – a significant step in the right direction in the right direction toward encouraging mining companies to minimize the environmental damage they cause.

Photo of a Gitanyow Chief in regalia looking out over the territory

Government’s Declaration Act Action Plan includes modernizing the Mineral Tenure Act

The BC Mining Law Reform network welcomes the Declaration Act Action Plan, released by the B.C. government this week. Notably, the plan lays out numerous actions on the self-determination and rights of Indigenous Peoples … and the specific action to “modernize the Mineral Tenure Act in consultation and cooperation with First Nations and First Nations organizations.”

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