Federal Government Investigates Imperial’s Tailings Leak in Alberta

On Thursday, Canadian federal authorities started investigating a months-long tailings leak at Imperial Oil’s Kearl oilsands mine in Alberta’s northern region, suggesting possible legal charges.

Environment Canada is looking into a possible violation of the Fisheries Act, which prevents the “deposit of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish,” or any area where those kinds of materials could flow into fish-inhabited waters.

Local Indigenous groups who hunt and fish on land located downstream from Canada’s oilsands mines have been upset by the leaking of tailings –a toxic mining by-product containing water, silt, residual bitumen, and metals– from Imperial’s site since last May.

Since early February, when the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) issued an environmental protection order against Imperial, the federal government has been conducting inspections of the facility.

To determine whether criminal charges are required, officers will conduct a thorough investigation, said Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault in Ottawa.

“It means the process is underway to hold the company to account,” he said.

The company has issued a statement saying that they are cooperating with Environment Canada and will take measures to prevent any negative effects on rivers downstream.

They also added that test results show that there’s no indication of negative effects on fish or wildlife and drinking the water is still safe to do.

In May 2022, the company identified a discoloration in the water near the Kearl site and notified the AER and Indigenous communities in the area. However, when analysis revealed the water contained tailings, the company did not provide an update to the local Indigenous groups.

Minister of Tourism Randy Boissonnault called the Kearl leak and the lack of communication “simply unacceptable.” He is one of only two Liberals in Alberta’s government.

Boissonnault also criticized the explanation and apology given by Imperial CEO Brad Corson before a parliamentary committee last April.

“Imperial Oil’s CEO did not acquit himself well at committee, in fact they did themselves no favours,” Boissonnault said. “It’s unjust for Indigenous communities that are living downstream to have questions about their drinking water table and the health of the natural environment.”