On September 13th, the Mining Association of Canada presented its ‘Towards Sustainable Mining’ (TSM) standard at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. MiningWatch Canada and the BC Mining Law Reform (BCMLR) network released this backgrounder on these voluntary standards, which the B.C. government often refer to even as it ignores pressure from the public and First Nations to improve its legal and regulatory controls on mining…
News
Mount Polley Mine Loses at Environmental Appeal Board
MiningWatch Canada is relieved that the BC Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) has dismissed Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley Mine appeal of its $9,000 fine for violating environmental permit requirements. The mining watchdog urges the BC government to beef up its environmental sanctions and stop ongoing water pollution in Quesnel Lake.
Revealed: The Dirty Secrets Behind B.C.’s Claim to Be a World-Class Mining Jurisdiction – New Report
British Columbia’s aim to become a choice supplier of metals and minerals needed to build a greener global economy will fail unless laws are changed, according to a new report released today. Legal reform and better enforcement are needed to force B.C. mining companies to live up to the claim that they are world leaders in social and environmental responsibility.
Dilution is Not the Solution – Mining Pollution, Compliance and Recognizing Indigenous Laws to Protect Watersheds
Join the Webinar on May 12th 2021 | Noon (Vancouver/Seattle) | 3pm (Toronto/NewYork) | Featuring: Tŝilhqot’in Nation’s legal challenge against Gibraltar Mine (Taseko Mines) and Nadleh Whut’en & Stellat’en First Nations’ successful efforts at Endako Mine (Centerra Gold / Thompson Creek Metals)
New Map Shows Dozens of Mine Pollution Threats in B.C.
Today, SkeenaWild and the BC Mining Law Reform network released new maps pointing to over a hundred known and potentially contaminated mine waste sites that threaten to pollute waters, fish habitat and communities across the province.
Polluters Should Pay: Apply the Campsite Rule to Mining Companies
One of the things most British Columbians can agree on is that the polluter should actually pay. We recently conducted a poll that shows 90% of us want mining companies to clean up the environmental messes they make. Right now, that doesn’t always happen.
B.C. voters support mining reforms that protect the environment, make polluter pay: poll
The Narwhal | Survey also shows majority of British Columbians want government to create more protected areas with Indigenous Peoples — even if that means less mining and logging.
New Poll Shows Strong Support to Reform Mining, Create New Protected Areas in B.C.
Four out of five British Columbians (80%) would support the BC government creating more protected areas with Indigenous peoples to meet the target of protecting 30% of the land and water by 2030, “even if that means reducing areas available for mining and forestry.”
Supreme Court of Canada Confirms End “New Prosperity” Mine Project
In a victory for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, but also for the integrity of environmental assessment processes, the Supreme Court of Canada today dismissed Taseko Mines Ltd.’s application for leave to appeal last year’s Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) ruling about the federal assessment of Taseko’s proposed New Prosperity copper-gold mine in Tŝilhqot’in territory in central British Columbia.
U.S. demands explanation from province over river pollution from B.C. mines
CBC | Contamination from Teck coal mines in waterways of Elk River watershed is a long-standing problem