VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals need to step aside from any direct involvement in the investigation into the tailings pond failure at the Mount Polley mine by ordering a truly independent investigation, say the New Democrats.

“Any investigation into how this tailings pond dam collapse happened absolutely has to look at failures in government policies, procedures, regulations, and enforcement. For that to happen, government cannot be investigating itself,” said New Democrat leader John Horgan, noting the investigation should be broad enough that it can look back at policy and budget decisions going back to at least 2001 when the B.C. Liberals slashed inspections.

Horgan said a fully independent, experienced and knowledgeable commissioner must be named to head the investigation, such as former federal environment minister and fisheries minister David Anderson.

The terms of reference should have a broad scope, including the ability to call and question any witness he or she feels is necessary. The investigator must have full access to all government documents and report out publicly within six months.

“Unless someone outside this Liberal government is given full authority to investigate this failure, the public won’t be able to regain the trust and confidence in our regulatory regime we need to develop safe, sustainable resource development projects in B.C.,” said Horgan.

Horgan noted that more than a week after the tailings pond failure, the B.C. Liberals have not publicly released key documents related to the mine and tailings pond that would allow the public the chance to begin to understand what happened, and ensure it doesn’t happen at any of British Columbia’s other tailings ponds.

“When I was up in Likely last week I said the public needs to see the documents within a week,” said Horgan. “But the Liberals haven’t even been able to produce something as simple as the mine permit for Mount Polley.”