John Horgan, the leader of the BC New Democratic Party, is in Likely talking to local groups and touring the tailings pond failure site.
Horgan says he will hold the Liberals responsible and make sure the public gets the answer they need when the legislature resumes on October 6th.
“The first week of the disaster, Mr. Bennett (Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines), was just fishing for what would be the best answer to give when media asked the questions and when the public asked questions…’it’s just sand and water’ was the first response and then it was ‘well, I (Bennett) would drink the water’ but I haven’t seen him drink any of the water yet and I know that in the e-mails I have been getting from residents, they’re still reluctant even though they have had some positive test results.”
Horgan adds that the Liberals have had a poor track record when it comes to enforcing mining regulations and has even reduced their number in the past.
“Kevin Falcon, a former Minister, was actually the Minister for the regulation…there wasn’t a lot of reason or thought into the work that he did. He just eliminated regulations without regard for the consequences to the public.”
Horgan says this is his first opportunity since the August 4th disaster to take stock how the clean-up is progressing and what the consequences are for the local economy.