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ON says ‘no’ to environmental assessment of clearcut mercury impacts in Grassy Narrows
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- Created on Monday, 29 December 2014 15:27
Science indicates that clearcuts will deepen the tragedy of mercury poisoning
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Read the coverage in The Star and on CBC.
Listen to the piece on CBC's radio program, Up North.
Grassy Narrows – On the night before Christmas Grassy Narrows First Nation received notice that Ontario is rejecting the community’s request for an Individual Environmental Assessment of the mercury impacts from the controversial final plan for clearcut logging on their homeland. Grassy Narrows is concerned that the planned clearcut logging will harm the health of their families by raising mercury poison levels in local fish – a traditional staple.
Ontario's logging plan makes no mention of mercury, and contains no special measures to account for the fact that Grassy Narrows’ homeland is the site of Canada’s most infamous case of mercury poisoning arising from 9,000 kg of mercury that was dumped into their river by a paper mill upstream in the 1960’s. Scientific studies indicate that clearcut logging in the boreal forest can raise mercury in fish to unsafe levels.
“Ontario has ignored our voices and is planning to force more devastating clearcuts on our people without even applying their own Individual Environmental Assessment process,” said Joseph Fobister, a Grassy Narrows land-user and businessman. “It makes me sad that our people will become even sicker if the government allows the logging industry to poison the fish that we eat.”
“I am disheartened by this hurtful decision,” said Chief Roger Fobister Sr. of Grassy Narrows. “It seems that our health and our culture do not matter to the government as they attempt to force their clearcut plans on us. The only honourable way forward here is to work together to gain our agreement before our land and water are used.”
Friend of the Greenbelt Award 2014
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- Created on Wednesday, 10 December 2014 10:03
The 2014 winners of the Friend of the Greenbelt Award. From Left to right: Glenn De Baeremaeker from Save the Rouge Valley System; Debbe Crandall from STORM Coalition; Caroline Schultz from Ontario Nature; Amber Ellis from Earthroots; and Steve Gilchrist, former Cabinet Minister.
At high noon on a beautiful November day, close to a hundred Ontarians gathered at Hart House’s Great Hall to acknowledge the significant contribution that five individuals have made to the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Through their work to protect this significant ecological feature, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Debbe Crandall, Amber Ellis, Steve Gilchrist, and Caroline Schultz are characterized by an enthusiastic commitment to the values which demonstrate that possibility does indeed grow in Ontario’s Greenbelt.
The natural hydrological system of the Oak Ridges Moraine is vital to the health and well-being of Ontarians. About 40 significant rivers and streams flow south to Lake Ontario from their headwaters in the Oak Ridges Moraine, providing clean water for millions of Ontarians.
A special congratulations goes out to these five winners for their steadfast dedication to this critical feature of the Ontario landscape.
Toxic dirt dumped in Ontario’s prime farmland
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- Created on Monday, 20 October 2014 11:56
The Star
With lax rules and no tracking system, Ontario sits idly while Toronto’s contaminated dirt is dumped in the countryside.
Toronto’s construction boom is unearthing massive volumes of soil contaminated with dangerous heavy metals and petroleum, but it’s nearly impossible to know where the dirt is going because Ontario doesn’t track it.
Instead, thousands of tonnes of toxic earth taken to prime farmland from downtown condominium projects are usually discovered accidentally — by neighbours who report bad odours from soil that is supposed to be “clean.”
Long-term, experts warn of contamination of agricultural land and groundwater, often in the Greenbelt or Oak Ridges Moraine.
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Now, groups like Lakeridge Citizens for Clean Water, Earthroots and Save the Oak Ridges Moraine are demanding the tough regulations of a “clean soil act.” They’re seeking rigorous laws that include soil tracking, a definition for “clean” dirt and rules to govern where contaminants are taken.
“The GTA is surrounded by the best farming land and drinking water sources and we will be polluting it for generations if the government continues to turn a blind eye to this problem,” said Earthroots’ Josh Garfinkel.
Watch a piece on Global News here.
The Dirt on Dirt
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- Created on Sunday, 05 October 2014 18:46
Contact Josh Garfinkel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 416-599-0152 x15 for more info.
Celebrate the Marvellous Moraine!
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- Created on Wednesday, 03 September 2014 20:13
Order your tickets here!
Protect Old-Growth Pine Forest and Lichens: Study
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- Created on Monday, 18 August 2014 22:05
New research from the University of Guelph lends support to protecting an old-growth forest in Sudbury, Ont.
The study, conducted by researchers from the School of Environmental Sciences and Guelph’s Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, examined the lichen communities in the Wolf Lake stand of trees in northern Ontario. Lichens consist of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, normally green algae.
The Wolf Lake stand is the largest old-growth red pine forest in the world, but is threatened by active mining leases and claims. Wolf Lake is located 50 km northeast of downtown Sudbury. Trees as old as 300 years have been found there.
“Old-growth pine forests are complex systems and contain much more biodiversity than meets the eye,” said Guelph environmental sciences professor Madhur Anand, one of the study’s authors.
“That biodiversity translates directly into all kinds of ecosystem services. Lichens are an often-ignored aspect of biodiversity, but can be important for many things from indicating pollution levels to providing food for other species.”
Report on mercury poisoning never shared, Grassy Narrows leaders say
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- Created on Monday, 28 July 2014 11:31
Province says it did share the 2010 report. Others say it wasn’t shared because it supports Grassy Narrows’ claim that Ontario is negligent in caring for mercury poisoning survivors.
By: Tanya Talaga Staff Reporter, The Star. Published on Mon Jul 28 2014
The people living in a northern Ontario community near where a toxic dump of 10 tonnes of mercury occurred five decades ago are still suffering the neurological effects of mercury poisoning, and a report about the effects of the poisoning was never made public, First Nations leaders say.
For years, the residents of Grassy Narrows First Nation, a community of 1,500 outside Kenora, have complained about symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning after a paper mill dumped the mercury into the Wabigoon-English River system between 1962 and 1970.
A 2010 report, entitled “Literature Review: The Impact of Mercury Poisoning on Human Health,” was commissioned by the Mercury Disability Board, yet kept hidden from those involved, claims Roger Fobister Sr., chief of Grassy Narrows First Nation.
Expert report exposes Gov neglect on Grassy Narrows Mercury Poisoning Tragedy
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- Created on Monday, 28 July 2014 09:08
Toronto – A report by scientific experts reveals that the government response to the ongoing mercury tragedy in Grassy Narrows has been inadequate and untruthful. The report was commissioned by the Mercury Disability Board in 2009, but it was never released to the public, and its scathing conclusions have not been acted on. The Board includes representatives of both the provincial and federal governments. The report contradicts the governmental refusal to acknowledge mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows, and reveals that health care, diagnosis, and support for mercury survivors are substandard.
PRESS CONFERENCE
WHAT: Grassy Narrows responds to the report, calls for justice for mercury survivors.
WHEN: Monday July 28, 10:00 a.m.
WHO: Grassy Narrows Chief Roger Fobister Sr.
Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy
Grassy Narrows Mother of Five Judy Da Silva
Stephen Lewis available for comment by phone
WHERE: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St. (near Spadina and College)
N.B. Full copies of the report will be available at the press conference.
Stephen Lewis Speaks With Grassy Narrows
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- Created on Tuesday, 15 July 2014 12:13
STEPHEN LEWIS SPEAKS WITH GRASSY NARROWS
Water, Indigenous rights, justice for mercury survivors.
July 29th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Ryerson University
FEATURING
• Grassy Narrows Chief Roger Fobister
• Judy Da Silva - Grassy Narrows Clan Mother
• Leanne Betasamosake Simpson - Writer, educator and activist
• Stephen Lewis
Grassy Narrows River Run 2014
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- Created on Tuesday, 15 July 2014 11:33
The people of Grassy Narrows have sustained themselves for thousands of years on their traditional territory – 6,500 square kilometres of boreal forest, lakes and rivers. Clearcut logging, mining, hydro damming, relocation, and mercury poisoning continue to threaten their way of life. Join Grassy Narrows families and their supporters in Toronto this July.
Parties missing link between environment and economy, survey shows
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- Created on Monday, 09 June 2014 11:25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, ON – The health of our environment underlies many of the concerns being debated in the Ontario provincial election, from future job growth to health care throughout our province.
But no major party has fully embraced the connection between a healthy environment, a healthy economy and healthy people, according to a survey of party positions undertaken by 20 of Ontario’s leading environmental non-profit organizations.
“From the alarming decline in pollinators to the uncoordinated rush to develop numerous mines and other resource projects in one of our last great wilderness areas, there are big issues at stake in this election,” says Tim Gray of Environmental Defence.
Green Prosperity Coalition: Ontario Election 2014
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- Created on Thursday, 05 June 2014 12:15
Green Prosperity is a joint effort by 20 of Ontario’s leading environmental organizations to put forward an action agenda for the province that we believe will help make Ontario a world leader in the new green economy.
Looking for info about your local candidates? Check out the Elections Ontario website here.
In Memory of Farley Mowat, 1921 - 2014
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- Created on Wednesday, 07 May 2014 18:01
Farley Mowat dead at 92
Award-winning author was also a noted environmentalist
CBC News
Farley Mowat, one of Canada's best-known authors and a noted environmentalist, has died at age 92.
Mary Shaw-Rimmington, the author's assistant, confirmed his passing to CBC News on Wednesday afternoon. Mowat died at his home in Port Hope, Ont.
Mowat, author of dozens of works including Lost in the Barrens and Never Cry Wolf, introduced Canada to readers around the world and shared everything from his time abroad during the Second World War, to his travels in the North and his concern for the deteriorating environment.
See the full article (which includes video and audio clips) on CBC.
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