FortisBC's toxic tunnel
February 27, 2026
Tracey Saxby
Remember Britannia Mine?
For much of the 20th century, acid rock drainage from the Britannia Mine poured massive amounts of toxic, metal-laden water into Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. The pollution created a "dead zone" in nearby ecosystems, devastating marine life for decades.
After the mine closed in 1974, it took decades of advocacy, regulatory reform, remediation, and sustained stewardship by First Nations, scientists, volunteers, and local government to clean up the mess at public expense. Our ecosystems slowly recovered, and the herring, salmon, and whales returned. This recovery is precious, and it is fragile.
Now FortisBC is putting Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound’s ecosystems and biodiversity at risk again.
FortisBC's toxic tunnel
FortisBC is tunneling through 5.2 km of granite bedrock, and has encountered potentially acid generating rock. The tunnel has created a pollution machine, with excessive water flows loaded with heavy metals like what happened at Britannia Beach with acid rock drainage.
Two years ago, we warned regulators that FortisBC's water treatment system was inadequate and that it would fail to meet requirements. They did not listen.
Now we've learned that FortisBC has been discharging DOUBLE its permitted wastewater into Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound and exceeding water quality guidelines for over a year—with zero consequences from the BC Energy Regulator.
Instead of fixing the problem, FortisBC is asking for permission to pollute even more.
FortisBC has applied to amend its permit to:
- Increase discharge by over four times (from 1,500 m³/day to 6,815 m³/day);
- Discharge copper and aluminum at levels exceeding BC Water Quality Guidelines;
- Replace enforceable guideline protections with weaker site-specific limits that won’t address impacts on marine life.
This is unacceptable.
Take action by March 7, 2026
Tell regulators to reject FortisBC's permit amendment and hold them accountable for this uncontrolled water pollution that is exceeding the original permit conditions.
FortisBC needs to stop work on the tunnel until they upgrade the water treatment system to meet water quality guidelines.
SEND A LETTER NOW!Thank you for standing with me to defend Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound's precious ecosystems.
Tracey Saxby
Executive Director
My Sea to Sky
P.S. Our handy letter writing tool will send a letter to key Ministers, BC Energy Regulator, FortisBC, your MP, and your MLA. But you can also submit a comment on your own to Waste.Management@bc-er.ca and egp@fortisbc.com by March 7, 2026. FortisBC's application to amend the permit can be accessed here. Weekly water quality testing results can be found here.
My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Can you chip in?