Province cleared in Mount Polley mine disaster investigation

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – The provincial government didn’t violate its duty to inform the public about the risk of a breach at the Mount Polley mine, that’s the conclusion of an investigation by the Information and Privacy commissioner.

In her report, Elizabeth Denham says there’s nothing to indicate the Mines Ministry had any information that should have triggered a warning before a tailings pond at the mine collapsed last August. That breach sent millions of litres of waste water into the surrounding lakes and streams.

Denham is calling for more proactive disclosure of information that is ‘clearly in the public interest.’

“I also took this opportunity to delve further into the correct interpretation of Section 25 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. I have been concerned about the proper interpretation of the public interest disclosure requirement for a number of years and chose this investigation as the appropriate opportunity to clarify its interpretation.”

Denham adds there were two separate opportunities the ministry responsible had to let the public know there were problems at the mine.

She wants to see the disclosure rules loosened up to give the public more information on a threat that’s not deemed ‘urgent.’

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