February 28th, 2017

NDP statement on Grassy Narrows mercury contamination

NDP Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Critic Michael Mantha and NDP Environment and Climate Change Critic Peter Tabuns issued the following statement in response to new information suggesting that mercury is continuing to find its way into the English-Wabigoon River:

“It’s quite troubling to hear that mercury continues to leech into the English-Wabigoon River system. The people of the Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong First Nations have been devastated by the contamination, and knowing that mercury is continuing to find its way into their primary food source means their saga is far from over.

“Ontario’s New Democrats have been calling for a cleanup of the Dryden mill site for years, and this new information only reinforces the urgency of that call. We will continue to press the Liberal government until we see action to address this contamination – until ‘the fish are safe to eat.’ Water is life.”