A report is urging B.C. to get better financial guarantees that mining companies will pay for the mess they make.

The First Nations who commissioned the study say that if the government doesn91裸聊视频檛 do it, they will.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 clearly a recognition by the government and the courts that we have ownership and lands and we have jurisdiction and authority,91裸聊视频� said Allen Edzerza of the B.C. First Nations Energy and Mining Council.

91裸聊视频淲hat this report is suggesting is that maybe they should exercise some of that authority.91裸聊视频�

The province is reviewing the rules by which it ensures that taxpayers aren91裸聊视频檛 stuck with the costs of cleaning up or caring for abandoned mines. The report points to several recent examples of the government being left to pay the costs, including at least $500,000 at one old gold mine.

Current legislation requires companies to put up more assets towards the end of a mine91裸聊视频檚 life. But the assets often depend, directly or indirectly, on the company91裸聊视频檚 value or on commodity prices.

B.C.91裸聊视频檚 auditor general recently concluded that the costs of mine cleanups exceed the surety held by the government by $1.4 billion.

That leaves the public at risk even with good-faith operators, said Jason Dion, a consultant who wrote the report.

91裸聊视频淓ven a big, well-capitalized mining company can go bankrupt,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e essentially betting $1.4 billion on the continued financial viability of the mining sector. If there was commodity price downturn, you could see a number of mining companies going bankrupt.91裸聊视频�

A better solution would be to require miners to put up hard assets out front that wouldn91裸聊视频檛 change value, said Dion.

Quebec has such a policy and leads the country in new mining investment.

B.C. chiefs are likely to pay close attention to what the report suggests, Edzerza said. 91裸聊视频淭he chiefs will be very supportive of that approach.91裸聊视频�

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Court decisions as well as the province91裸聊视频檚 of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ensure First Nations have a strong hand to play when it comes to mining development on their lands, said Edzerza.

91裸聊视频淐learly government has to change its approach,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚f you91裸聊视频檙e going to mine, we think the reclamation has to be addressed properly.91裸聊视频�

Edzerza said First Nations are in talks with B.C. on reforms to mining regulations, including on how cleanup guarantees are funded.

Other jurisdictions are doing a better job, said Dion. 91裸聊视频淥n this front, British Columbia is a bit of a laggard.91裸聊视频�

The Canadian Press

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