Group takes protests over mercury poisoning to premier’s door
Grassy Narrows environment issue sends protesters to Kathleen Wynne’s house.
LUCAS OLENIUK / TORONTO STAR
A group of demonstrators marched to the Toronto home of Ontario Premier Kathleen WynneSunday afternoon to raise awareness about mercury contamination in the area of Grassy Narrows in northern Ontario.
By: Jane Gerster Staff Reporter, Published on Sun Aug 25 2013
There’s too much talking and not enough doing.
That was the message dozens of protesters brought to the door of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s home Sunday afternoon.
Winding their way from North Toronto Collegiate towards the Premier’s residence at the end of a small cul-de-sac, protestors chanted “justice for Grassy” and “hey Wynne, where ya been,” backed by a small marching samba band.
A series of promises, first from former premier Dalton McGuinty and most recently from Wynne, then aboriginal affairs minister, have done nothing said frustrated protestors.
“There are people who are suffering from mercury poisoning, who’ve been waiting for 40 years and our premier is still dragging her heels and not taking action,” said David Sone, organizer of freegrassy.net. “We’re trying to let people know because we believe that when people do know they will demand action and that hopefully will wake up Premier Wynne.”
Last summer, Wynne promised to use the Japanese report to help move forward, mending fences with the Grassy Narrows residents.
Although there was nobody from Grassy Narrows in attendance and Wynne herself wasn’t at home, event organizers and the community’s supporters renewed their desire to see the government take responsibility for the poisoning, compensation, and restoration of the river system.
Mia Mioc, a 28-year-old teacher who used to work in a neighbouring community a few years ago, said drinking water, eating fish and the idea of swimming in the water was cause for constant worry.
“I was always checking: is there mercury poisoning? Is it safe? Is it not?”
Even though Wynne wasn’t home to hear the drums, chants and applause, and even though only a few neighbours on the quiet street came outside to watch, Sone said it’s important for supporters to keep raising their voices.
“For people in Grassy Narrows there’s no vacation from mercury poisoning, they have to live with it in their homes, their bodies, their families every day. They don’t get to go to Muskoka and forget about it for a week.”