Lakes as private garbage dumps
By Meera Karunananthan,
Council of Canadians National water campaigner

On March 22, World Water Day, the Council of Canadians will join forces with Mining Watch, CUPE BC, the Tsilhqot'in National Government and several British Columbia-based organizations to demand that the federal government reject an application by Vancouver-based Taseko Mines Limited for a massive open pit gold-copper mine near Williams Lake that would destroy the Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) watershed. To the Tsilhqot'in, who have lived on the land for thousands of years, the lake is sacred. In addition to being an important source of food security for the community that continues to fish and hunt in the area, it is an important part of their cultural and spiritual heritage. The Tsilhqot'in National Government has rejected Taseko's proposal to drain the lake in order to stockpile rock waste.

The Council of Canadians sees this struggle as emblematic of the federal government's failure to recognize water as a human right and a public resource. To allow a mining company to turn a lake into its private garbage dump is the height of water privatization in Canada. Taseko is taking advantage of a new loophole in the Fisheries Act called 'schedule 2', which allows mining companies to apply to have lakes redefined as 'tailings impoundment areas' thereby eliminating all protections of the Act, which would normally prohibit the dumping of toxins into fish-bearings waters.

A rally will take place in Williams Lake on March 22 where public hearings are being held by the federal panel reviewing Taseko's proposal. The Council of Canadians and its Williams Lake chapter have both made submissions and are requesting to speak at the hearings.

Meanwhile, Taseko is demanding that a film containing testimonials from members of the Tsilhqot'in nation not be shown at the hearings. To view the film, please go to: http://www.canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=2994

Also on March 22, the St. John's Newfoundland chapter will work with other allies to raise awareness on the need to protect Sandy Pond which has already been designated a tailings impoundment area for a nickel mining project by Vale Inco. The Council of Canadians is working with activists in Newfoundland on a legal challenge against schedule 2. If we are succesful, this will put an end to the practice of using lakes as dumpsites.

To see the Council of Canadians' submission on Teztan Biny, please go to: http://www.canadians.org/water/issues/TIAs/teztan-biny.html

To learn more about lakes being turned into toxic dumpsites, please visit: http://www.canadians.org/water/issues/TIAs/index.html