BC’s Auditor General Says Province Not Doing Enough To Manage Hazardous Spills

BC’s Auditor General says the province is not doing enough to manage hazardous spills as well as it could.

The province’s Environment Minister agrees.

In a statement, George Heyman said the report demonstrates that the government has strong environmental protection procedures in place, and that while it has provided effective oversight when hazardous spills happen, there’s room for improvement.

He says the province takes the recommendations seriously and has accepted each of them.

The government is working on a new environmental-emergency management action plan, set for release later this year. Heyman says the auditor general’s recommendations reinforce the work they are already doing on it.

Heyman says they are already taking concrete actions to improve processes, including with First Nations.

The AG report had indicated, among other things, that the province was lax in notifying First Nations of spills.

“My ministry has also updated our Indigenous Peoples Reconciliation Strategy as we work to strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples based on mutual recognition and respect,” the statement said.

Heyman says the upcoming action plan will ensure that hazardous spills are prevented, contained, and remediated effectively, and that communities have a full and prompt understanding of any impacts to the health of their environment.

To see the full statement, visit Government of British Columbia.