KENORA – NDP candidate Rudy Turtle (Kenora) condemned Trudeau’s Liberals failure to reach an agreement over an on-reserve care facility for people in Grassy Narrows First Nation suffering from the effects of mercury poisoning before the dissolution of Parliament. Trudeau’s Liberals had years to come to an agreement and solve the problem, but they didn’t.
“Children and elders are suffering from mercury poisoning every day in Grassy Narrows,” said Turtle. “Justin Trudeau promised to build a treatment center to help our people. He had four years to fix the problem, but he failed. This isn’t how Reconciliation works.”
Grassy Narrows families have suffered from mercury poisoning because of a corporate chemical-dumping crime that poisoned the English and Wabigoon rivers in the 1960s and ‘70s. The Liberal government promised a much-needed mercury care facility to care for the sickest residents — but has been stalling, trying to get away with delivering much less than promised, or perhaps nothing at all.
“Conservative and Liberal governments came and left, and the people of Grassy Narrows are still getting sick,” added Turtle. “When elected, I will work in Ottawa to ensure that Grassy Narrows is heard so we can finally build a treatment center to help people suffering from mercury poisoning and clean the river.”
“For New Democrats, Reconciliation is at the heart of our work. We will honour our treaties, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, close the health gap and renew the relationship between Canada and First Nations with an Action Plan on Reconciliation,” concludes Turtle.
