A new mercury treatment facility lags behind schedule, while Grassy Narrows said it has only received 1 per cent of the required funding
OTTAWA — The chief of the Grassy Narrows First Nation has rejected an apology from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying Ottawa needs to put its promised funding for a mercury poisoning treatment centre into a trust in order to ensure the money will be available over the long term.
Grassy Narrows has been suffering from mercury poisoning in its local water supply for decades, after an upstream pulp and paper mill dumped thousands of pounds of effluent into the English-Wabigoon river system through the ’60s and early ’70s. Goldberg was representing an advocacy group called Free Grassy Narrows, which aims to help the community secure a long-term care facility for patients of mercury poisonings.
Trudeau was speaking at a so-called Laurier Club event, which are Liberal Party fundraisers attended solely by major donors who give $1,500 or more. “They wanted to express their concerns about an issue and I do take that seriously and I apologize to them.” The facility in Grassy Narrows, designed to hold around 20 beds, was meant to begin construction in the fall of 2018, but has not yet broken ground. One person familiar with the matter said that in discussions with the community in December, Philpott said she expected to project to get underway around June of this year, already months behind its initial start date.
The rough cost of the Grassy Narrows treatment centre is estimated at around $17 million, but due to the inter-generational existence of mercury the community is calling on Ottawa to provide maintenance and services to the facility over a 30-year period, for a total of roughly $88 million.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trudeau’s comments to Grassy Narrows protesters ‘unacceptable and offensive,’ says AFN National ChiefOn Thursday morning in Halifax, Mr. Trudueau apologized for his comments and said he has been informed that the protesters may have a child affected by the issue of mercury poisoning on Grassy Narrows First Nation
Read more »
‘Trudeau’s apology rings hollow:’ Grassy Narrows chief rejects apology, calls for long-term mercury treatment fundingA new mercury treatment facility lags behind schedule, while Grassy Narrows said it has only received 1 per cent of the required funding
Read more »
Opposition lashes ‘arrogant’ Trudeau after he thanks First Nations protesters for donations‘Thank you very much for your donation tonight,’ Trudeau told protesters from Grassy Narrows First Nation at a high-end Liberal Party fundraiser
Read more »
'I lacked respect': PM Trudeau apologizes for response to protesterPrime Minister Justin Trudeau apologizes for saying 'thanks for your donation' to a protester who asked about mercury contamination on the Grassy Narrows First Nation at a Liberal fundraising event. Read more here:
Read more »
‘Trudeau’s apology rings hollow:’ Grassy Narrows chief rejects apology, calls for long-term mercury treatment fundingA new mercury treatment facility lags behind schedule, while Grassy Narrows said it has only received 1 per cent of the required funding
Read more »