What will your party do to pay for the cleanup and restoration of mining sites after they close? That’s a question The Discourse heard after we asked what questions you have for provincial election candidates.
We sent the question to candidates in the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding. The riding stretches from just north of Duncan to the south end of Nanaimo, including the communities of Chemainus and Ladysmith.
BC Liberal candidate Duck Paterson did not respond to the request by the deadline. We will update this story if we receive a response.
Be sure to sign up to the Discourse’s newsletters for the Cowichan Valley region and Nanaimo to stay up to date on our coverage.
Chris Istace, BC Green Party
Just as I expect my communities to hold me accountable, it is up to the government to hold companies accountable for the mess they make. Companies cannot leave communities, or the province, to hold the bill when a company closes a mine. It is bad enough that communities have to live for generations with the environmental impacts mines leave. I want to see strong regulations put in place for any mining operation that properly addresses financial costs of cleanup as well as environmental damages that occur. Companies won’t be allowed to operate without holding enough money to pay for their cleanup and restoration.
Doug Routley, BC NDP
If elected we are committed to making changes that will ensure owners of large industrial projects are bonded moving forward, so that they – and not B.C. taxpayers – pay the full cost of environmental cleanup if their projects are abandoned.
