(UPDATE: on April 17, 2026, Jeff Kibble, Conservative MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, wrote a letter to the federal government urging a stop to further dumping on the site and to "enforce a binding and time-limited cleanup, and commit the federal resources necessary to fix this problem — now." He said the illegal landfill "falls outside the full jurisdiction of the Cowichan Tribes' Land Code, leaving primary authority — and responsibility — with the federal government." https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122191976600618834&set=pcb.122191976624618834 )

Cowichan Tribes’ Chief Administrative Officer, Alistair MacGregor, released the following statement today, updating the BC pollution prevention order issued to James Anthony Peter for an authorized landfill on Tribes' Indian Road reserve:

“The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks has an active investigation and Pollution Prevention Order in place at 5544 Indian Road, Duncan, B.C.

"Cowichan Tribes’ Lulumexun (Lands and Natural Resources) department continues to support the investigation and work collaboratively with the Ministry to advance steps for remediation. Our staff are in regular contact with the Ministry and continue to communicate with Mr. Peter, the individual who is identified in relation to the site, to reinforce that no activities are permitted.

“A remediation plan has been drafted by an environmental consulting firm on behalf of Mr. Peter and submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Parks to bring Mr. Peter into compliance with the Pollution Prevention Order. For clarity, Cowichan Tribes' engagement in this matter has been with the intention of effecting and ensuring good governance.

"Cowichan Tribes is not acting as Mr. Peter’s agent and denies any responsibility or liability in relation to the alleged unauthorized activities at Lots 1, 2, and 3, (the "Prohibited Activities") or any past, current, or future activities occurring on those lands related to the Prohibited Activities.

“Assessment work at the site is scheduled to start in the coming days to install 19 monitoring wells to determine if contamination is present in groundwater. At this time, there is no confirmed contamination of the Cowichan River.

“Cowichan Tribes continues to engage the federal government through Indigenous Services Canada regarding its responsibilities for legacy contaminated sites on reserve lands. As this site does not fall under the jurisdiction of Cowichan Tribes Land Code, federal support and action are required.

“Cowichan Tribes remains committed to environmental stewardship, a deeply held value that is engrained in the Quw’utsun Snuw’uy’ulh (Cowichan Teachings). A new Cowichan Tribes contamination working group has been established to advocate to the federal government regarding its fiduciary duty.”

The province in response repeated earlier comments that the "file is with the Ministry's Integrated Environmental Enforcement Unit for investigation, and no further updates can be provided at this time."

sixmountains.ca first reported on the unauthorized landfill on Oct. 25, 2025. Read more: https://www.sixmountains.ca/article/fdaaf885-11e9-432e-9041-aa3c4f965a5e

Subscribe free — no ads or paywalls. More than 120,000 unique visitors.

Consider a donation to local in-depth reporting.


— Larry Pynn, April 13, 2026