The Chief of Grassy Narrows First Nation is disappointed that this year’s provincial budget did not set aside funds to clean up mercury in the river near his home.“This budget leaves the future of my people in doubt,” said Chief Simon Fobister, who since February has sent three letters to Premier Kathleen Wynne asking her to secure the funding in the $150-billion budget.“There is nothing in here for cleaning the river that is our life blood, and nothing for the healing of our people,” said Fobister.In response to the Chief’s concerns, a spokesperson for the provincial ministry of the environment said the government is “immediately” giving $2.1 million to fund pre clean-up studies.“This is a significant next step towards accelerating ongoing fieldwork and moving forward with the remediation action plan,” said spokesperson Gary Wheeler.The $2.1 million is far short of what scientists say it would cost to clean up the river over years.At the end of March, the chief scientist for Grassy Narrows, John Rudd — who initially recommended a cleanup of the mercury in the 1980s — pegged the costs of cleaning up the mercury over ten years at $85.7 million.The goal of Rudd’s 10-year plan is to bring mercury levels in the Wabigoon river walleye down to a level where it would be safe for subsistence fishers.The three-part plan will work to shut-off any ongoing mercury sources from the mill or surrounding areas, add clay and oxygen or nitrogen to the river to speed up natural recovery and monitor the area long-term.In a March 29 letter to Wynne, Grassy Narrows Chief and Council asked the premier to implement Rudd’s plan “without delay” and requested funds for the entire decade-long cleanup be included in the budget, with money for future years’ work to be placed in a trust.Chief Fobister said he wrote his letters to Wynne in an attempt to lock up significant cle ...
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