Regina city council passed a motion on Monday seeking more ways to communicate toxic spills and leaks within the city.
A motion was presented by Councillor Andrew Stevens and Councillor Bob Hawkins for their August 26 meeting calling for more transparency and accountability when it comes to spills and leaks in Regina. The motion was carried unanimously by council on during their special council meeting on Monday of leftover agenda items from their August 26 gathering.
Following Monday’s meeting, Mayor Michael Fougere admitted the latest oil leak at the Co-op refinery back on May 22 was part of the reason why the motion was brought forward.
“And not only that, but because we had some communities downstream that complained about this and were concerned about it,” explained Fougere. “We had to notify them which is our role that the [Water Security Agency] gave us.”
“They want to know as well what’s happening, but most importantly we want to protect our assets.”
Among the recommendations listed in the motion are a review of existing fines and costs connected to polluting spills and leaks affecting land and waterways within Regina, a commitment to make public all spills and leaks that could compromise treatment facilities or infrastructure, and the development of regulations that would require the city to give notice within 24 hours of all spills and leaks that could affect land and waterways within Regina.
The motion also calls for a report of all spills publicly and promptly that is “barrier free for the public to access.”
During the May leak at the Co-op refinery, 60,000 litres of oily liquid leaked into the city’s wastewater system. While city administration has worked with polluters in the past to cover costs when spills occur, the city has never handed a fine or penalty for those incidents. According to the city, a fine can be up to $25,000.
“Administration could change that, but I think we need to know how far we can go in terms of having a fine large enough to sway someone with a penalty other than the costs for clean up,” said Fougere. “There are some reports to come back on how we would look at that.”
City administration will compile a report to be presented to council in 2021.