Auditor-general: B.C. lacks up-to-date major spill response plan, failing to keep people informed
The number of B.C. spills involving gasoline, diesel, and other hazardous substances are trending upward and plans to respond to a major spill are out of date.
These findings appear in a new report by Auditor-General Michael Pickup after an audit of Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy management of hazardous spills. The audit — conducted of the Environmental Emergency Program between Nov. 2020 and June 2023 — also found the ministry “did not have a current provincial-level plan for responding to a major spill.” It notes that the province has two response plans in case of a major spill, but each was created in 2023 and both need updating.
“As the deficiencies identified in the audit were in key areas impacting the ministry’s overall management of hazardous spills, we concluded that the ministry had not effectively managed hazardous spills,” it reads.“The ministry recognizes the importance of having a current provincial hazardous material response plan,” it reads. The ministry added that the plan will align with revisions to the Emergency and Disaster Management Act.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
With more hazardous spills in B.C., a need to improve response: auditor generalThere are thousands of spills and other environmental emergencies every year, the report says, but the province’s current response plans are about 10 years old.
Read more »
Auditor general set to release report on controversial ArriveCan appA person holds a smartphone set to the opening screen of the ArriveCan app in a photo illustration made in Toronto, Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
Read more »
MPs push for Canada’s chief auditor to investigate the firm behind the ArriveCan appThe Hill Times
Read more »
The ArriveCan tale gets worse, but the mystery remainsThe Auditor-General’s report leaves too many questions unanswered surrounding ArriveCan’s creation
Read more »
Auditor-General to report Monday on how cost of ArriveCan app grew from $80,000 to more than $54-millionAuditor-General Karen Hogan’s report anticipated to provide detailed look into federal government’s oversight of app for international travellers
Read more »
Suspended ArriveCan officials allege broad cover-up of app’s cost overrunsThe unprecedented finger-pointing about who is ultimately to blame for ArriveCan’s cost follows Auditor-General Karen Hogan’s scathing report
Read more »