Queen’s Park – During Question Period today, France Gélinas, Ontario NDP Indigenous relations critic, demanded the Premier answer questions about what her government has done to fulfill its promise to address mercury contamination in Grassy Narrows.
“It took Japanese researchers, not this government, to provide the only public data on the health effects of mercury poisoning on the people of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong,” Gélinas said. “You committed $300,000 in May to immediately begin field work. Will you show the local people there what’s been done, how much has been spent, what samples have been taken so far, because we have found nothing.”
Yesterday, Grassy Narrows Chief Fobister joined Japanese scientists at Queen’s Park to present a report that showed 90 per cent of residents, including the children, of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) First Nations show signs of mercury poisoning.
“The Environment Minister amazingly stood in this house and said, ‘I can’t imagine we could be doing more.’ Well, Chief Fobister seems to think you could be doing more. The people of Grassy Narrows, world renowned scientists, and Ontarians, we all think you could be doing more,” Gélinas said.
“Will the Premier follow the Japanese lead, clean up the English-Wabigoon River of mercury so that the people can drink the water and eat the fish?”
