| Court Orders Canada to Report Mining Pollution | 19 May 09 |
 The government of Canada must now report all toxic mine tailings data and waste rock from mining operations. Until now toxins such as mercury, sulphuric acid and arsenic, due to their interpretation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) have not been reported. The Federal Court of Canada ruled the government must publicly report mining pollution data from 2006 onward to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). The national database details industrial and commercial pollutants released into the air, water and land. "The court has unequivocally upheld the right of Canadians to know when the health of their communities and environment is under threat from one of the country's largest sources of toxic pollution," said Ecojustice lawyer Marlene Cashin. Ecojustice filed the lawsuit in 2007 on behalf of Great Lakes United and Mining Watch Canada. The suit alleged the government broke the law by failing to collect and report pollutant information under the NPRI. Environment Minister Jim Prentice said the government will comply with the court's ruling. View April 24, 2009 CBC articleView April 24, 2009 Mining Watch Canada article View April 23, 2009 CBC backgrounder: Federal Court of Canada Reasons for Judgment (PDF) View National Pollution Release Inventory - Tracking Pollution in Canada View Federal Court Orders Publications of All Mining Pollution Data Sources: CBC, Mining Watch Canada |
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