NAFTA’s environmental arm demands Canada explain oilsands tailings leaks
OTTAWA — The environmental arm of NAFTA is demanding Canada explain what it is doing to stop oilsands tailings ponds from leaking into Alberta waterways.
The request comes in a decision by the commission which oversees the North American Agreement on Environmental Co-operation, a parallel agreement to NAFTA signed by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Canada has until Sept. 28 to officially respond to allegations it is failing to enforce the Fisheries Act by allowing contaminants from the ponds to leak into water without forcing the companies involved to fix the problem.
The complaint was made in June by Canada’s Environmental Defence group and the Natural Resources Defense Council based in the United States.