Mount Polley Mine Disaster

The worst mining disaster in British Columbia’s history

On August 4, 2014, a section of the Mount Polley copper mine tailing pond collapsed, releasing 25 million cubic metres of mine tailings and waste water into pristine Quesnel Lake in central British Columbia. As a result, parts of the crystal clear lake filled with thick, grey mining sludge. Recent peer-reviewed scientific studies show that the area of Quesnel Lake where the tailings were deposited shows higher levels of bacteria and metals, such as copper. 

For Indigenous peoples in the area and downstream who rely on healthy waters for food and cultural practices, the tailings breach was devastating.  The company responsible for the mine, Imperial Metals, has not been fined, charged or sanctioned for the disaster. 

Read our report on the human rights impact of the Mount Polley mine disaster.

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Group of people standing with sign reading "Canadians want justice for Mount Polley Mine Disaster"
Cubic meters of tailings spilled into Quesnel Lake
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A crater carved out of the earth by the Mount Polley tailings dam burst. A sign is in the left side of the image that reads 'Restricted access, area closed to the public'

UN reminds Canada of its human rights obligations

In June, 2018, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights called on Canada to bring those responsible for the disaster to justice.

In September, 2017 CERD made a number of recommendations to Canada about the Mount Polley disaster. So far, Canada has failed to act in any meaningful way to address the harms people suffered.  

Read Amnesty’s Submission to CERD’s 2017 Review of Canada and our press release.  

In August, 2017, Amnesty Interantional Canada added our voice to the calls for justice for the Mount Polley mine disaster by making two submissions to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We noted the disproportionate and discriminatory impacts of the disaster on Indigenous peoples and called for Canada to release studies on the health impacts of the disaster on the health and food security of those affected. 

In its concluding observations, the CERD noted that “…the mining disaster has resulted in a disproportionate and devastating impact on the water quality, food such as fish, fish habitats, traditional medicines and the health of Indigenous peoples in the area”. It went on to call on Canada to publicly release the results of any government studies into the disaster and the ongoing criminal investigation, and to monitor and provide remedy for the people harmed by the disaster. In an unusual move, it called on Canada to report back within one year information on the implementation of its recommendations and in particular, noted the importance of incorporating free, prior and informed consent in decision-making and approvals of large-scale resource development projects.  

We will continue to press Canada to comply with CERD’s recommendations. 

“Our bodies are part of our lands. I am made of salmon, moose, deer and berries from our territory. Our story about the land is a love story.”
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Nuskmata Mack

Xat’sull First Nation, Secwepemc territory

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