NDP Leader Avi Lewis, Indigenous Affairs Critic Leah Gazan Join Grassy Narrows Calling for PM’s Apology and Clean Water Rights

OTTAWA – Today, NDP leader Avi Lewis and Indigenous Affairs critic Leah Gazan joined members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation on the Hill, to demand an apology from Prime Minister Carney and call for immediate action to address their community’s mercury poisoning emergency.

The press conference came just days after the Liberals tabled new water legislation that fails to uphold the basic right to clean water for First Nations.

“That the government has removed the right to safe and clean drinking water in this legislation is yet another slap in the face of the members of Grassy Narrows who, among so many others, have waited decades for their basic rights to be realized,” said NDP Leader Avi Lewis.

In the 1960s, the Dryden pulp industry dumped roughly nine tonnes of toxic mercury into the English-Wabigoon River, causing an acute, enduring mercury poisoning emergency that affects an estimated 90 per cent of the Grassy Narrows First Nation members today.

Earlier this year, Chrissy Isaacs, who suffers from mercury poisoning, protested the plight of Grassy Narrows at a public news conference where Prime Minister Carney quipped that he can "outlast her." Chief Sherry Ackabee called for an in-person apology following the Prime Minister’s disrespectful comments.

“I wish the government would realize they’re poisoning our people,” said Chief Ackabee. “We’ve been through enough. We need justice for our community. The government should shut down the mill because it’s taking our children.”

“When Mark Carney said he could outlast me, well… I’m here,” added Chrissy Isaacs. “I don’t want him to apologize to me, I want him to apologize to my children and grandchildren, and to the people of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong. Our lives matter. We were robbed of a good life.”

Grassy Narrows First Nation Deputy Chief Bear Copenance further emphasized the urgent need for the government to compensate the people of Grassy Narrows and to finally clean the river, while Clayton Cameron of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations underlined that his community deserves justice and a future where children do not share the same plight of their parents.

“First Nations like Grassy Narrows cannot wait around while the Liberals take their time rectifying long-standing human rights abuses, like the denial of clean water to First Nations,” said NDP Indigenous Affairs Critic Leah Gazan, whoreiterated the demand that the Prime Minister issue an apology.

"Water is life, and this ongoing failure to uphold the right to clean drinking and source water simply amounts to genocide,” Gazan added.