Tories slammed for allowing gold mining claims in Grassy Narrows as mercury cleanup stalls
The Progressive Conservatives are under fire after revelations of a new gold rush in Grassy Narrows First Nations territory even though suspected mercury dumps have yet to be cleaned up.
In the wake of a front-page Star investigation by Sheila Wang that found a dramatic increase in gold mining claims at the Grassy Narrows First Nation recently, the Tories conceded the mercury contamination dating back to the 1960s “must be properly addressed.”
“Indigenous communities are assessing the extent and location of mercury contamination, using funding approved by the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel from the $85-million trust,” government house leader Paul Calandra said Tuesday.
That money was committed by former premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals in 2017, which at the time blamed “gross neglect” by successive Tory, Grit, and NDP governments.
Between 1962 and 1970, a paper plant in Dryden dumped 10 tonnes of mercury in the Wabigoon River, contaminating the fish and poisoning local residents.
“The ministry is holding Domtar (current owner of the mill property) responsible for assessing the extent of the mercury contamination in and around the mill site, including addressing the infrastructure and storm water management issues,” said Calandra.
A previous Star investigation found that in 1972, another 50 drums of salt and mercury was buried in a pit, leading to mercury readings in the soil that were up to 80 times natural levels.
While provincial testing confirmed mercury was in the soil — and Queen’s Park promised in 2018 excavation would soon begin — the cleanup has not been done.
NDP MPP Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay) warned the 4,000 gold mining claims on Grassy Narrows territory, in northwestern Ontario about 100 kilometres north of Kenora, could come at a hefty cost.
“Will … Premier (Doug Ford) please tell the people of Grassy Narrows and Ontario, does he think that being ‘open for business’ should come at the expense of the health of the people of Grassy Narrows?” Bourgouin said in the legislature, quoting Ford’s pro-business mantra.
“This government has been quick to consider mining claims while the fish are still unsafe to eat and the people of Grassy Narrows are hesitant to drink the water,” the New Democrat said.
“Will the premier commit today to honour the land declaration that Grassy Narrows enacted in 2018 to ban industrial or mining activities on their territories?”
Calandra stressed the government would “continue to work with our First Nations partners.”
“We understand how important it is to develop in the north, but we understand how important it is to do it safely,” the minister said.
“But (Bourgouin) is quite correct, it has to be done safely. It has to be done in co-operation with our partners in the area. He is also very correct that the previous Liberal government failed the north, failed our First Nations communities.”
Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Randy Fobister said earlier this month that “lives are at stake” as prospectors strive to stake claims in an area that has endured terrible ecological damage for generations.
“I was dismayed that Ontario still refuses to respect the will of my people, and concerned that further industrial activity could compound the harm that has already been done by mercury and clear-cutting,” said Fobister.