The provincial First Nation’s energy and mining council says last summer’s tailings dam collapse at Mount Polley is still being felt.
CEO, Dave Porter says people in the Quesnel Lake area refused to consume the salmon after the spill.
“the people around the Quesnel Lake and River system refused to eat the salmon after the spill as early as last year, as we know Salmon is very sensitive to copper and copper was part of the mine tailings”
Porter says a 200-million dollar super fund should be set-up to cover the cost of similar disasters.
“this idea would not put the financial burden on one mine but will require all operating mines and new mines to contribute to such a fund, that fund based on Mount Polley should be around 200 Million Dollars”
Mining operations threaten over 230 Northern Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal communities and could affect the drinking water in Terrace, Smithers and Prince George.