In my discussion with representatives from Environment Canada, no one was aware that these releases existed until I did the review of the industrial waste-water reports. The regulator had approved them through a provincial process and was regulating them through provincial mechanisms. I can't find any evidence that Environment Canada actually knew that there were over 40 approved discharges of non-tailings water. I can't say that letters have been issued. Maybe Fisheries and Oceans Canada or Environment Canada was issuing them directly to the operators—Suncor, Syncrude or Imperial—but I don't have access to that.
On March 21st, 2024. See this statement in context.