Journalists seem to keep on pumping out news stories as of...

Journalists seem to keep on pumping out news stories as of late...

https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2018/11/20/une-facture-de-2-g-pour-les-sites-miniers-contamines

Contaminated mine sites continue to accumulate in Quebec. An environmental bill estimated at more than $ 2 billion.
"Let's say it is very worrying," said the Coalition president on Tuesday to make Quebec look better, Ugo Lapointe, on the sidelines of the Québec Mines convention in the capital.
According to the grouping of environmental groups, Quebec will have to assume the cost of cleaning up nearly 500 mine sites abandoned by the industry over the next few decades. Estimated bill: $ 1.2 billion.

"To this must be added the twenty or so sites in operation today, whose environmental liabilities are close to $ 843 million, for a total of almost $ 2 billion," said Mr. Lapointe.

Last year, the restoration of contaminated and abandoned mining sites cost the Government of Quebec $ 90 million.
Quebec says it has a financial guarantee of twenty or so mines totaling more than $ 800 million.
20 times more waste

The Coalition for Quebec to Look Better maintains that the mining industry generates 20 times more waste than those produced by Quebec citizens.
In 2015, data provided by the Quebec Institute of Statistics and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources show a production of 102.2 million tonnes of mining waste.
In contrast, the amount of domestic waste destined for landfill was 5.1 million tonnes during the same period.
The Coalition calls for better practices and a reduction of the mineral footprint through the recycling of metals and the use of a circular economy.
Lack of inspectors

According to the Union of the Public and Parapublic Service (SFPQ), Quebec is sorely lacking field inspectors to better regulate the production of waste by the mining industry.
"There needs to be more monitoring. Every year, there are a hundred or so mining projects that are not inspected due to a lack of resources, "said SFPQ President Christian Daigle.
The BAPE at all costs

To avoid such environmental mess, a group of citizens from La Motte, Abitibi, believes that all mining projects in Quebec must now go through the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) for approval.
These citizens are of the opinion that the Legault government must use its powers to force the Australian mining company Sayona Mining, who wants to erect a lithium mine in La Motte, to quickly file its project before the BAPE.
Waste produced in Quebec between 2006 and 2015

2006
Domestic: 6.7 million tonnes per year
Mining: 24.3 million tonnes per year
2015
Domestic: 5.1 million tonnes per year
Mining: 102.2 million tonnes per year
Sources: Coalition to make Quebec look better, ISQ and MERN