Tailing Impoundment Areas

Water - Tailing Impoundment Areas

Q: When is a lake not a lake?
A: When the Canadian Government says it should be a dump for mine waste.

Lakes that would normally be protected as fish habitat by the Fisheries Act are now being redefined as “tailing impoundment areas” according to a 2002 “schedule” added to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations of the Act. Once added to Schedule 2, healthy freshwater lakes lose all protection and become dump sites for mining waste. In 2006, two lakes in Newfoundland were added to Schedule 2 and more recently two lakes in Nunavut were approved for destruction.

Tailing Ponds Protest - Oct. 9, 2008
The Council of Canadians joined with Mining Watch Canada to question Environment Minister John Baird’s commitment to turn Canadian lakes into toxic dumpsites for mining companies. We attended an all-candidates forum in Minister Baird’s riding and put him on the hot seat.

Take Action! Sandy Pond, near Long Harbour, N.L., is next on the hit list. The mine tailings that Vale Inco plans to dump into the lake will destroy the lake, causing irreversible damage. Save Newfoundland's Sandy Pond and tell our government that lakes should not be used as dump sites.

Online Poll: Should Canadian lakes be used as dump sites for mining corporations? View poll results

Click here for Environment Canada’s list of 11 lakes proposed for destruction.

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Water - Tailing Impoundment Areas

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