Liberal statement on government failure to respond to Mount Polley emergency

August 7, 2014

VANCOUVER – Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra, Joyce Murray, today issued the following statement on the Mount Polley tailings pond spill near Likely, British Columbia:

“Monday’s devastating tailings pond spill from the Mount Polley mine has become an unprecedented disaster for the Cariboo region of British Columbia. Worse still, the 10 billion litres of polluted water is threatening to contaminate British Columbia’s salmon bearing watersheds. It is clear that managing this volatile situation requires the concerted efforts of Canadians and our federal government.

“The Conservative government has completely ignored the growing ecological emergency that is unfolding in British Columbia. The federal government has a responsibility to support a response to such emergencies, yet still we have seen no action from the Prime Minister or from the Minister of Public Safety, Steven Blaney.

“Instead of focusing on this environmental catastrophe, Blaney and other Harper ministers have launched a smear campaign against Justin Trudeau, citing the ‘alleged’ questionable activities of a mosque he visited in his riding. However, after eight years in government, the Conservatives have done nothing to address a purported security threat that Canada’s Minister of Public Safety himself alleges to exist.

“The Harper government and the Public Safety Minister should be using their resources to help Canadians through the crisis in BC, not to smear political opponents. While Conservatives stay focused on us, we will stay focused on Canadians.”