ONDP joint statement on Grassy Narrows report

NDP jointstatement from Kenora-Rainy River MPP  Sarah Campbell and NDP Aboriginal Affairs Critic France Gélinas on Grassy Narrows report

“Once again New Democrats join with members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation to call on this government to take responsibility and more importantly, take action on the over 40 recommendations made in the Human and Ecological Health report completed last December that only came to light this week.

 

“The report’s findings are clear. The people of Grassy Narrows have been made ill by historic mercury exposure from long ago, and that the mercury levels in surface sediment in the area are continuing to increase. The December 2014 report details how there hasn’t been any comprehensive health study, no pre-natal health checks of residents or monitoring of the mercury levels in the Wabigoon river by this or any government in twenty years. 

“It took the threat of a hunger strike by a community leader last fall to get a meeting with the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, and the Minister said at the time that he wouldn’t rest until he got answers for the community. So why bury the report now?

“When will this government step up and actually monitor the health of the community, monitor mercury levels in the fish, and the effect of industrial logging in the area, and provide relief to this community?” 

Link to report: http://freegrassy.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ANA-Ontario-MWG-Sellers-Final-Report-2014-highlited.pdf