Mount Polley Disaster...Boss! Boss! The Snow!

FantasyIslandGovernment
TatooYouVille


It would appear that the PAB-Bots and Wizards hiding behind the curtains of Snookland have doubled-down and called in Ricardo Montalban for the duration.

How else can anyone explain why their current Mining Minister, and former Turdstormer, Mr. Bennett, is running around telling anyone who will listen that the Mount Polley thing is not an environmental disaster but is instead really just one of those things...

Like the thousands of avalanches that happen every year in British Columbia.

You know...

All those man-made avalanches.

Of dirt....

That was designed by engineers.

Engineers who ran away from from the dirt pile as fast as they could when the mining company was allowed to ramp-up production by Mr. Bennett and friends.

Gosh.

Do you think that, maybe the engineers ran away from the dirt pile ski-doos! and that's what caused the 'avalanche'?

Maybe that could be tomorrow's deflector spin line!

****

Again.

Where is the puffed-up pro-punditry on this one?

It's almost as if they are waiting for the issue to 'fade from the public consciousness' so that they can start calling folks who are upset by the preventable tragedy 'cultists'.

Is it possible that they have been bamboozled by the look, smell and feel of all that rich corinthian leather they have become so accustomed to?

Cordoba!


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I wonder...Do the PAB-Bots still provide hourly media montoring 'updates' to the Snooklandians like they used to back in the days of Martyn and Our Gord?...Or...Have they stepped up their game to real time since the new guy took over?


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Mount Polley Disaster...They All Knew (Ch 3).

TwoPlusTwoDoesNotEqualFive
MillionCubicMetersOfToxicSludgeVille


From GHoekstra's weekend piece in the VSun:

....(Imperial Metals vice-president of corporate affairs Steve) Robertson said Saturday there was no disagreement about the dam when (original engineers) Knight Piesold left the project (in 2011).

“I don’t think that’s anything out of the ordinary that they would make sure they establish (they) were only responsible for things up to this point — now it’s somebody else’s issue and provide lots of caveats and warnings in there,” said Robertson.

{snip}

...Imperial Metals president Brian Kynoch has been adamant the company has followed their engineers’ advice.

Once Knight Piesold left the project, AMEC was hired to provide advice on raising the height of the dam to contain growing amounts of ground-up waste rock and water.

Robertson said the company followed both the advice of Knight Piesold and the new firm AMEC.

“We did monitor construction and operate properly,” said Robertson.

Mines Minister Bill Bennett said he also does not view the letter from Knight Piesold as unusual or that it was a warning....

Gosh.

Perhaps we should return, once again, to the actual press release that was attached to the actual letter from Knight Piesold so that we can read what they actually said to BOTH the company and the government in 2011:

...Since February 10, 2011, Knight Piésold Ltd. has not had any responsibility or knowledge of any aspects of the design, modifications or performance monitoring of the tailings storage facility at Mount Polley. The original engineering done by Knight Piésold Ltd. accommodated a significantly lower water volume than the tailings storage facility reportedly held at the time of the breach. Significant engineering and design changes were made subsequent to our involvement, such that the tailings storage facility can no longer be considered a Knight Piésold Ltd. design.

Upon completing all assignments as the Engineer of Record in 2010, Knight Piésold Ltd. wrote to Mount Polley Mining Corporation and to the Government of British Columbia's Chief Inspector of Mines and stated that "the embankments and the overall tailings impoundment are getting large and it is extremely important that they be monitored, constructed and operated properly to prevent problems in the future." (See attached letter dated February 10, 2011)...

****

So.

It has now been a full week.

And it is now abundantly clear, as it has been since the beginning, that the government knew there was a problem with the pile of dirt that was supposed to keep that massively expanding toxic lake from spewing it's even more toxic crap into the Fraser River waterway since 2011.

Thus, if the local Lotuslandian proMedia does not now hound the leaders of said government to the end of the earth and demand answers regarding why they did not act to rectify the problem?

Well, those fine holders of all the 'established credibility' around here will be failing we, the people, of British Columbia.

Again.


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#bcpolley....Let The Pump And Dump Begin!

AllTheSafetyThatFits
Kinda/SortaVille


Well, well, well...

Whaddy'a know.

Everything is just peachy and all is right with the mine tailings world once again, according to our fine Environment Minister, Ms. Mary Polack.

Stephen Chua, of the CP, had the story up on Sunday evening:

...Imperial Metals Corp., the company that owns the breached pond, is moving water from Polley Lake into Quesnel Lake to relieve pressure on a wall of debris that formed after the spill...

{snip}

...Environment Minister Mary Polak said the government authorized the company to start pumping after the latest results from Polley Lake suggested water quality is similar to that of samples taken in the 1980s...

Except, well, there is this matter of everyone kept out of the area.

Why?

Well, the Chair of the Cariboo Regional District, Al Richmond, explains:

...Authorities are also restricting access to the area surrounding Polley Lake because of concerns the wall of debris may be unstable, and authorities want to make sure no one is in the area if a washout occurs.

Al Richmond, chair of the Cariboo Regional District, said the restriction does not affect any populated areas and no one is being forced from their home.

People have been visiting the area to get a look at the accident site, and they could be interfering with work in the area while putting themselves at risk, Mr. Richmond said.

“We know that some folks have been quite curious and have been going in there,” he said. “Some folks don’t seem to realize we don’t want any activity on Polley Lake that might in fact cause that plug to breach.”

“If there’s a potential breach and you’re on Polley Lake fishing, for example, you could find yourself in Quesnel Lake pretty quick, and the outcomes may not be very pleasant,” said Mr. Richmond.

“I would suggest it would be unlikely someone would survive that type of ride.”...


Sure sounds like everything is Mary Polak peaches 'n cleaner-than-clean and closer-to-fine to me.

Yessiree.

As for all that sludge that has made its way down to Polley Lake....Why should we worry when Mary has her crack team workin' the case, hard?


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This Day In Snookland...We're Shocked, Shocked We Say...

...To Learn That Ms. Clark Is Involved In Pay To Play!

Isn't it interesting that now, after the Mt. Polley mine disaster, the Lotuslandian proMedia has suddenly decided to make a big deal about the fact that mine owner Murray Edwards raised a whole bunch of really big money for Christy Clark and friends before the last election?

The thing is, as Bill Tieleman noted back in the day, this was all known back in the fall of 2012 when Ms. Clark began her most excellent trips to Calgary so that she could just start 'saying anything' in front of the cameras while she courted the big money boys in the back rooms.

And, interestingly, bloggers with no established credibility noted how differently Ms. Clark's antics were viewed on each side of the Rockies.

Here is what we had to say at the time:

Remember this bit of devastating analysis of our (not) Premier in the wake of her most excellent, chumpier-than-thou, trillion dollar adventure in Alberta from the Calgary Herald's Don Braid:

"(Ms. Clark) is, by a wide measure, the most inconsistent, self-contradictory and desperate politician in Canada."


Well.

While he may be a couple of days late, Vaughn Palmer, using a whole lot of reports from other newspapers as his fodder, offers up his own analysis in the Vancouver Sun:

"Rather than indulging her penchant for hyperbole, Clark would be wiser to focus single-mindedly on getting even one (LNG) terminal signed sealed and delivered."


See the difference?

****

Gosh.

We bloggers sure are whiny and sanctimonious for making such a fuss about the kid gloves that the most inconsistent and self-contradictory politician in Canada is treated with by the proMedia around here, especially given the demonstrable consequences, aren't we?

Sheesh.


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Mount Polley Disaster...Here Come The Litigators.

BossBoss
TheDates!Ville


We thank an Anon-O-Mouse and Don F. for pointing us towards the following:

...Siskinds LLP today (Aug. 7th) announced the commencement of an investor class action against Imperial Metals Corporation (“Imperial”) (TSX:III) and certain of its directors, officers and related parties. The action relates to the circumstances surrounding the failure of the tailings facilities at Imperial’s Mount Polley gold and copper mine near Likely, British Columbia on August 4, 2014.

The action is brought to recover losses suffered by persons who acquired common shares or notes of Imperial between August 15, 2011 and August 4, 2014...


Hmmmm...

That's a pretty big window that 2011 to 2014 window.

What happened in 2011, again?

Oh ya, we remember now.

Documentary evidence and all that.



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Weirdly, 'Suskinds' isn't the only litigation specialist jumping in to the effluent fray...Is this what these fine folks do...Wait for a big share drop and than start the chase?


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Mount Polley Disaster...The Red Herring Still Swims (For Now).

AllYourSediments'RUs
HeavyMetalVille


A number of drinking water safety tests have come back positive.

Which is a good thing, short term, for the people who live in, or who are visiting, the effluent flow fall-out zone.

However, do not let the fact that the Snooklandians are, essentially, using this as an 'It's not as bad as we thought/everything's going to be OK after all' card fool you as they crawl out of their hidey-holes to face the people (see, for example, environment minister Polak, Mary).

Why?

Because of this, buried deep below the lede in the CP's Snooklandian-friendly story from last night:

...All five (water) testing sites had zinc levels above chronic, or long-term, exposure limits for aquatic life, which an accompanying memo said could be a problem if it persists...

What's that all about Alfie?

Well, don't forget, it's the sludge that holds all the toxicity, not the water. That's why the recommendation from those in the know was to release some of the water (not the sludge) from that giant lake BEFORE the massive breach occurred.

OK?

Mount Polley Disaster....They All Knew, Chapter Two.

TimeToHeadBackToTheBunker
ForTheDuration?Ville


The following is a news release, in its entirety, from Knight Piesold Ltd, a company that used to be (but is no longer) the engineer 'of record' for what became the massive, over-filled, tailings pond at the Mount Polley mine.

It makes for most interesting, and important, reading:

VANCOUVER, Aug. 8, 2014 /CNW/ - The breach of the tailings storage facility at Mount Polley is an extremely unfortunate incident and Knight Piésold Ltd. shares the concerns with respect to the effects to local communities, First Nations and the environment.

Going forward there will be a comprehensive examination of this incident and there will be questions about the engineering and design of the tailings storage facility. As the former Engineer of Record of the tailings storage facility at Mount Polley, we feel it appropriate to provide some clarity and transparency of the role of Knight Piésold Ltd.

Knight Piésold Ltd. informed Imperial Metals that we would not continue as the Engineer of Record for the Mount Polley Mine on February 10, 2011, and subsequently ceased to perform that role. During the time we acted as Engineer of Record, the tailings storage facility at Mount Polley operated safely and as it was designed. A third party Review Panel provided independent review of the tailings impoundment design during initial construction and permitting during 1995 to 1997. In 2006, while we were Engineer of Record, an Independent Third Party Dam Safety Review by AMEC Earth and Environmental confirmed that the three embankments were well-designed and well-constructed entities from a dam safety perspective.

Since February 10, 2011, Knight Piésold Ltd. has not had any responsibility or knowledge of any aspects of the design, modifications or performance monitoring of the tailings storage facility at Mount Polley. The original engineering done by Knight Piésold Ltd. accommodated a significantly lower water volume than the tailings storage facility reportedly held at the time of the breach. Significant engineering and design changes were made subsequent to our involvement, such that the tailings storage facility can no longer be considered a Knight Piésold Ltd. design.

Upon completing all assignments as the Engineer of Record in 2010, Knight Piésold Ltd. wrote to Mount Polley Mining Corporation and to the Government of British Columbia's Chief Inspector of Mines and stated that "the embankments and the overall tailings impoundment are getting large and it is extremely important that they be monitored, constructed and operated properly to prevent problems in the future." (See attached letter dated February 10, 2011). A formal handover of design, construction and monitoring responsibilities was conducted on March 8, 2011 when AMEC Earth and Environmental was acknowledged as the new Engineer of Record for all future work at the Mount Polley tailings storage facility.

Knight Piésold Ltd. is not familiar with, and therefore cannot comment on, the details of the incident, or on the design, construction, operations, water management practices or any other aspects of the Mount Polley tailings storage facility.

Knight Piésold is an international consulting group providing engineering and environmental services for the mining, power, water, transportation and construction sectors. With offices around the globe, our team of over 800 experienced professionals delivers high quality specialized services and innovative solutions that respect social, environmental and economic responsibilities.


Please note, specifically, the passage bolded, above.

Because, as we said the day after the disaster, they ALL knew.

And if the proMedia in this province does not hound the Ministers responsible, and their Boss, to the ends of the earth until they get give them straight answers about what they knew and when they knew it by this time Monday morning then they should all hang their heads in shame, regardless their so-called 'established credibility'.

****

Upshot, now?

The focus should ALL be on the government, whose job it is to protect British Columbians and British Columbia from such ridiculously reckless activity.

And to make sure that the mess created by this activity is really cleaned up properly - and we're not just talking drinking water here.

Because, long term, it is the toxic sludge that tailings ponds are created to contain that will be the real problem here.

OK?


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And as an important follow-up, the proMedia should be asking the government who, specifically, made the 'significant engineering and design changes' to the dam after Knight Piesold pulled out in early 2011.


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Mount Polley Disaster...The Tailings Foreman Who Quit Says The Company AND The Government Are To Blame.

ThePeopleDoingTheActualWorkShallTellUs
TheTruthVille


From Global News:

...Gerald MacBurney, a former employee of the mine, worked there for seven years, eventually ending up as a tailings foreman. He is speaking out today about why he left.

He quit this past June, saying one of the main reasons was the stress of the job.

“I fought those guys for two years,” he says, “the management at Polley, to get rock like they were supposed to, and build the dam properly. Doing my job, and then they would not do the stuff that you wanted, you know? I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

“They needed to put in five million tonnes [of rock] around the dam, because they added, once they went to a bigger mine life, they added five times the amount of water,” adds MacBurney. “That dam was never designed to hold five times that amount of water.”

“Five million tonnes, well we got maybe a couple hundred thousand. And that’s it, in two years. I’d had enough.”

He says they had a breach at the tailings pond in May and the company “just patched things together.”...

{snippety doo-dah}

...(McBurney) says the government is just as much to blame for what happened. “They were there in May because we had the breach, they call it high water, I know what a breach is and I know what high water is. It came over the till. That’s an automatic breach.”...


So.

Until the good Mr. Bennett proves otherwise (i.e. that his government and, more specifically, his Ministry, did NOT know that there had been problems with the 'dam' before this week's massive breach) he can take his 'only one of the five warnings were about tailings'  deflector spin codswallop and shove it.

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This Day In Snookland...'No One Understands'

WhenInDoubt
ObfuscateVille


It would appear that our 'Say Anything' Premier was at it again yesterday, as quoted by Corus' Shane Woodford:

...“No one understands how this happened this time. We are goijng to understand thoroughly and in detail how this occured. Once we understand that if changes need to be made we will make them for every mine across the province. Again it is impossible to assign blame for certain aspects of it before we understand what exactly happened.”..


Really?

How about this, from Jennifer Sheppard's MoCo story on Tuesday.

...The B.C. Ministry of Environment says it warned Imperial Metals about the Mount Polley mine tailings pond levels repeatedly before this week's devastating breach...


Or, how about this, straight from the lede of Denise Ryan's NaPo story on Tuesday:

As far back as 2011, concerns were raised about the tailings pond at the Mount Polley Mine. Brian Olding and Associates, an environmental consulting firm, prepared a detailed report that was submitted to the provincial Ministry of the Environment.

“We looked at the pond and we thought there was monitoring required. We wanted an emergency contingency plan in place.”

Olding was hired jointly by the Williams Lake Indian Band, the Soda Creek Indian Band and mine owner Imperial Metals to conduct an independent review of the Mount Polley Mine 75 kilometres southeast of Quesnel and prepare a technical assessment report on the proposed discharge of water from a tailings pond...


Hmmmmm...

And all this was reported BEFORE mine workers started talking back while Ms. Clark was in hiding during the first days after the pile of dirt dam broke.

Gosh.

I thought Ms. Clark's minions told us she was being briefed on the 'issue' while she was squirrelled away in the bunker before she suddenly emerged, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, to tell us all about the 'promising' drinking water testing results Thursday afternoon that would soon become official (a full day after Terry Lake signalled that, perhaps, the Snooklandians already had that red herring in-hand late Wednesday).

It's almost as if these fine folks really do think that we can't remember what happened yesterday.

As for forty-eight hours?

Well, when you get that far out I guess the plan is to just shake up all the etch-a-sketches in the Premier's office and pretend while they recite the immortal words of Sgt. Schultz over and over and over and over again.

****

The mendacity of these people really is really quite breathtaking.

And if you need more proof of that you need to look no further than yesterday's claim from Mr. Clark's  Mines Minister that tailings pond inspections are unchanged 'since 2009'.

Of course, this claim is ridiculous on its face given that  the numbers of inspections have fallen significantly since the BCLiberals came to power in 2001 AND there is ministerial memo/letter written by the comptroller for water rights and sent to the Deputy Minister in 2011 warning of how understaffing was a concern for tailing pond oversight

The controller's memo/letter also said the following according to The Tyee's David Ball:

...(Comptroller)Davidson's letter expressed concern over staff cuts and the fact that the province had moved away from "audits" of dams towards relying on private operators to uphold the rules...


If it looks walks like self-regulation, quacks like self-regulation, and smells like self-regulation it probably is self-regulation.

Right?


________
Why is the drinking water testing thing a potential red herring that the Snooklandians have been using as part of the deflector spin roll-out?...Don't get me wrong, it is a real thing...But, it would appear that the sediments where the toxicity lies...And what about that selenium anyway?
Oh, and if you want to read a pro-media report that will have nothing whatsoever to do with the Snooklandian's etch-a-sketchmotology, you might want to go outside the cult of Lotusland's media club to read the Seattle PI's Joel Connelly.


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Sometimes A Drink Of Tailing Pond Water Is Just A Cigar...

....And Sometimes It Is Something Else Entirely.

From a recent editorial in the 'Northern Miner':

...The meeting the next day (after the disaster began) between Imperial president Brian Kynoch and affected residents in Likely, B.C., had its moment of dark comedy, too, when a feckless Kynoch told worried residents that of course he would drink the water from the tailings facility, "once the solids come out." It’s about as meaningful as saying that of course you’d play Russian roulette — once the bullets are taken out of the gun.


The entire editorial, which is both reasoned and measured is worth reading. The fact that it actually sees Imperial as one of the better Canadian companies in the game is an important point when it comes to pseudo-self regulatory policies of governments bent on bringing such outfits to a mountain top near them.


________
Laila was all over this yesterday as well...
Of course, the unintended consequences of pseudo-self regulation has caused some real problems in other situations here in Canada not so long ago also....


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This Day In Snookland...The Disappearing Premier's Distraction Factor.

LikelyStateOfEmergency
RunRunRunRunRunRunRunAwayVille

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Update 8:00am Thursday...Oh look...The weathermen (and the polling wizards) must have told the Premier which way the winds are blowing...

______

So.

The reason that the Premier of British Columbia is not dealing with a state of emergency in Likely, British Columbia is because, according to the minions in her office, she would just be a 'distraction'.

Gosh.

I'm not sure if a truer statement has ever been spoken by a gaggle of PAB-Bots about their beloved boss.

But not to worry.

Because the same fine minions have also let us know that Ms. Clark is being 'briefed' on the situation.

And, if, suddenly it looks like there is a polling point tenth or two to be gained?

Well...

You can pretty much make book that Ms. Clark will suddenly appear out of nowhere wearing  hip-waders while strolling through the muck to deliver sandwiches to the clean-up workers.

Oh.

Wait.

She only pulls off 'distracting' stunts like that at polling stations, right?

****

Meanwhile, the Snooklandian Health Minister was saying stupid stuff yesterday without any data to back up said stupid according to Martin McMahon of the CP:

...I think the concern is more on the environmental side than it is on the public health side,” says Health Minister Terry Lake. “We are obviously curtailing water use in the areas that are of concern."...


Unless, of course, the water test results from the big mine tailings spill are already in and the Snooklandians are holding on to them for maximal political advantage.

But they wouldn't do something like that, would they?


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In cased you missed it, the Province's Mike Smyth has written a column about this topic that is so tepid in its faux outrage that it set my blood to boiling...Essentially, I came away from this thing of Mr. Smyth's thinking the same-old-same-old 'politics-as-usual' bullshite...Thing is...Two weeks from now you know that pretty much all will be forgiven in the proPundit camp...Unless, of course, something really goes bad at Mt Polley...After all, the members of the Club are poll watchers too - which is almost more of a problem than the minions and the wizards that scuttle back and forth between Premier's offices and proPol outfits...And what do we lose when they do?...Why, nothing less than a clear-eyed condemnation of the government policies and practices that, demonstrably already, greatly contributed to this man-made disaster...
SubHeader subline?....Why Mr. Byrne and friends, of course...

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The Mount Polley Mine Tailing Disaster....They All Knew.

EarthWindAnd
FireVille


And that included the provincial environment ministry.

The MoCo's Jennifer Sheppard has the story. Here is her lede:

The B.C. Ministry of Environment says it warned Imperial Metals about the Mount Polley mine tailings pond levels repeatedly before this week's devastating breach.

The breach of the tailings pond dam at the copper and gold mine near Likely, B.C., released 10 billion litres of water and 4.5 million cubic metres of metals-laden fine sand, contaminating several lakes, creeks and rivers in the Cariboo region on Monday.In an email to CBC News, a Ministry of Environment spokesperson said it gave the firm its latest of five warnings in May, this time for exceeding the permitted height of wastewater within the tailings pond...


And yet no action was taken.

It's almost worse than self-regulation, because at least then a government can feign ignorance.

Here, there is absolutely no such excuse.

So....

Not to worry because

The Minister in charge, ol' turdstormer Bill himself, can really make 'em pay, like, at least 95 big ones.

And then the real boss can tell everybody that there really is no problem here because this was really just a failing of the Enviro Ministry's to implement our super-duper World Class rules and regulations.


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As for the Premier...Isn't she on holiday or something?
And we note, with interest, that the uber non-conflicty CBC BC Ledge Bureau did not, it would appear, receive the Email from the environment ministry that spilled the beans on this one.



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Another Reason Not To Pay For The Digital Version Of The VSun.

AllTheBoughtAndPaidForNonNewsThat'sNotReally
FitToPrintVille


I mean, in addition to the ridiculous cost (do not be fooled by the 99 cent first month)...

Well...

Norm Farrell has the story, and it is that abomination called 'sponsored content'.

And, more importantly, Norm explains why.

Why it is an abomination, I mean.

Go read his piece.


(Mr. Willcocks?....Over to you)


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Just so you know...The two E's, C and I are on the road for a couple of weeks...This is being typed, early in the morning with everyone else still sleeping) from the luxurious 2nd room (i.e. the tiny one with all the porcelain in it) located in the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Salem, Oregon...Two Gentleman of Verona in Ashland tonight!...Music and (maybe) a few pictures to follow...

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This Day In Snookland...Don't Know Much About History...

...But (Allegedly) Knows A Lot About Geography.

On the weekend we established Ms. Clark's dearth of historical knowledge when it comes to WWI.

But earlier last week she made her case with the faithful that she knows tons about geography.

The following is from Joe Fries report in the Penticton Western News:

...The premier opened her talk at a Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce luncheon by thanking those who’d given her and cabinet members a warm welcome during their retreat in the South Okanagan.

“I guess there’s a welcoming committee outside today as well,” she continued, acknowledging the group of teachers demonstrating on the sidewalk at the resort.

“It took them awhile to find us. We were here for three days. So I hope none of them are teaching geography,” Clark said, drawing a round of laughter and applause...


Gosh.

No limp microphone jokes this time around?

All snark aside.

Why would someone who is the Premier of British Columbia go out of her way to poke sticks in the eyes of public servants who are engaged in a long, difficult labour dispute with her own government?

Seriously.

Why?


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It's B.C. Day and I, for one, sure do miss two titans of the provincial bloggodome, both of whom established enormous credibility with me and many others, BC Mary and Ian Reid....


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How, Exactly Is This 'World Class' Mr. Coleman?

CodwallopanarianismStill
RulesVille


Remember how British Columbia's Minister for Everything (that Ms. Clark won't touch) was recently caught out for babbling on about our 'world class' standards for dealing with frack gas waste are anything but?

Well...

It looks like reality has once again gotten in the way of Mr. Coleman's codswallop.

The following is from Jonny Wakefield's July 30th story in the Alaska Highway News:

...In two cases, the city (of Dawson Creek) discovered illegal compounds in the holding tank of its dumping facility on 115 Street.

In one instance, staff discovered "chemicals used in the fracking process" in the holding tank...


And the Desmog Blog has more. Specifically, it turns out that frack gas waste has seeped into the Dawson City waste water treatment system at least twice in the last 18 months:

Although city officials from Dawson’s Creek won’t disclose the names of the companies involved, they are confirming that fracking waste has been illegally dumped into the city’s water treatment system on at least two occasions.

Jim Chute, administrative officer for the city, told DeSmog Canada, that illegal dumping has occurred at least three times, but twice the waste was “clearly” related to fracking.

“It has actually been on three occasions in the last 18 months where we’ve caught inappropriate materials being dumped,” he said. “One of those was a load of contaminated diesel. It’s not clear to us exactly how that diesel got contaminated so we don’t know if that was frack-related or not.”

“The other two were a mix of compounds that were clearly flowback waste from a frack operation.”...


Gosh.

We sure do look forward to Mr. Coleman's presser Tuesday at which he announces, with all the bluster he can possibly muster, that our standards for dealing with frack gas waste have now been upgraded to 'Solar System' class.

Or some such thing.


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Hmmmmm...Has anyone in the know even considered the possibility that the Sparkle Ponies will, in the end, actually cost us real money to clean up all the environmental, infrastructural, crony-giveaway and longterm commitment-type messes that are sure to follow given the fine folks who are (still) in charge of things?



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