This week we asked the provincial election candidates in Cariboo North and Cariboo-Chilcotin if elected would they continue to support the government’s decision to allow Mount Polley Mine Corp. to discharge mine effluent into Quesnel Lake?
Cariboo North
Scott Elliott (NDP)
I’m very concerned about this — it isn’t what the community agreed to when the mine was built. I know the importance of protecting Quesnel Lake.
I’m hearing a variety of suggestions: from re-routing the pipes, to dry-stacking, to thickening tailings for transport.
These are important conversations to have — both with the community and the experts. As MLA, I will work with residents of the community, First Nations and industry.
I will listen and be open-minded. And I will fight for proper regulation, oversight and regular inspections — it’s important for the safety of workers, the environment, and future mining and economic development.
Last week I put out a blog post on Mount Polley. You can find that full piece here: https://scottelliott.bcndp.ca/latest/elliott-mount-polley
Tony Goulet (B.C. Conservatives)
No. There needs to be a solid environment plan to address the discharging into Quesnel Lake.
This has impacts on the lakes, rivers, and lands for future generations. There needs to be a plan to monitor and make sure all environmental concerns are addressed. We need to work with stakeholders – community, First Nations, groups, and people. Under the conservatives we need to listen and put people first.
Richard Jaques (Green Party)
I have reviewed the Fisheries Act, the BC Metal Mining Effluent Regulations and the industry definition of a tailings impoundment area; I’ve come to the conclusion that any further discharge regardless of the upstream filtering process would be detrimental to the Quesnel Lake basin.
Quesnel Lake is a local water supply source, a salmon fish habitat and recreational area that should not incur any further industry-made contamination. I would recommend that mining continue, however, mined ore should be moved downstream to a processing plant away from the watershed; federal, provincial and municipal monies should be allocated to purpose build an ore processing plant in and near the town site of Williams Lake to ensure continued employment income for the 180-plus miners and their families.
Coralee Oakes
(Liberal)
To be clear, the long term water management plan was approved by an independent technical expert taking into account best available scientific evidence and public and First Nation consultation.
Further it is important to note that the permit requires the water from the mine to meet B.C. Water Quality Guidelines when released. These decisions should be based on scientific evidence not by politics.
Jobs are important to our community but we are making sure we are protecting the environment as well with the best available science experts.
Cariboo-Chilcotin
Donna Barnett
(Liberal)
I support this decision, as continued operations at Mount Polley Mine means well-paying jobs for the hundreds of individuals employed at the mine and numerous indirect jobs and economic benefits for communities in the Cariboo.
This mine generates an enormous amount of economic activity that benefits numerous other businesses in our communities.
The long-term water management plan was approved by an independent statutory decision-maker from the Ministry of Environment after taking into account best available scientific evidence and extensive public and First Nations consultation. To be clear, the permit requires the treated mine water to meet BC Water Quality Guidelines upon release.
Rita Giesbrecht (Green Party)
No. I would not support the discharge of mining effluent into Quesnel Lake.
The watersheds of B.C. are our greatest regional asset; and we have a national and global responsibility to steward pure water now, and forever.
There is an emerging world economy that has clean energy and clean tech as its driver.
To continue to support and pay for an industry that has its roots in the practices of 150 years ago is just one more way that B.C. is being kept in the past.
We have to end dirty industries as quickly as we can, and part of the transition must be to mitigate harm that has already been caused, and clean up the messes of the last century. That is economic development of a different sort, where the environment and economics work together, and one that is laid out in BC Green Party policy and planning.
Sally Watson (NDP)
Two and a half years after the Mount Polley disaster it’s clear the BC Liberals have failed both the mining industry and the environment.
The BC Auditor General report criticizes the Liberals for a deregulated system that allows the Ministry of Energy and Mines to both advocate for mining and policing safety and environmental regulations. It’s like letting the Canucks coach also be the game’s referee - it’s a situation virtually unique in major democracies.
This is as bad for mining as it is for the environment and worker safety.
I can assure you this concern is a top priority for John Horgan and NDP when elected. There have been reports explaining different methods of dealing with tailings. I will listen carefully to residents and work with unbiased science to find the most knowledgeable way to move forward.