In response to a massive spill of mining waste in the province's central Interior early last week, the B.C. government ordered the company responsible to take immediate action, staunch the flow of wastewater from its breached Mount Polley dam and meet several other clean-up obligations.

Imperial Metals was required to submit an initial environmental impact assessment report last week, and must submit further, more comprehensive reports detailing long-term impacts, such as on fish habitats and water quality. If the company fails to meet the conditions, it could be charged up to $300,000 in fines or face jail time.

Christy Clark visited the region last week, reportedly telling residents "our hearts are with you." She expressed sympathy, and vowed that once the cause of the spill was determined, the government would decide what it would do differently in terms of regulations.

Earlier in the week, Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the government "will learn lessons from this, and we will apply those lessons to other mines in this province."