The Tsilhqot’in First Nation has filed a civil lawsuit against Imperial Metals.
Mount Polley, Knight Piesold, AMEC and the Province of BC have also been named in the civil claim, filed in Vancouver last week – in connection to the August 2014 Mount Polley tailings pond breach.
Following the disaster, a State of Emergency was declared, and ‘no fishing’ and ‘no water use’ orders were put in place for Quesnel Lake and Quesnel River.
The lawsuit claims the breach seriously impacted traditional fishing of the Tsilhqot’in Nation and left their people unsure about the safety of consuming fish from the Fraser, Chilcotin, Chilko and Taseko Rivers.
The claim also alleges the Province of BC failed to meet reasonable standards of inspection and regulation, while the company and the engineers acted negligently or otherwise failed to meet their duties to protect the public and the Tsilhqot’in people from this type of disaster.
Despite filing the notice, the Tsilhqot’in is not yet taking active steps to litigation.
Instead it is extending an invitation to discuss the Notice with the Province and company before proceeding further.
w/ files from George Henderson MY CARIBOO NOW
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