Question Period Note: Grassy Narrows – Mercury Contamination

• We share the goal of Grassy Narrows in finding a solution that meets their needs.
• As previously agreed, the expansion of the existing health facility will begin in summer 2021.
• On April 2, I met with Chief Rudy Turtle to sign a Framework Agreement to build and operate a mercury care home in the community of Grassy Narrows.
• This agreement provides $19.5 million to the community towards its construction, and supports a design the community envisioned.
• We continue to work together with the community leadership to get this facility built.

Background
High levels of mercury contamination in the English-Wabigoon River system, discovered in 1970, caused very high levels of mercury exposure among people residing in the First Nations communities of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong. Levels of exposure in the late 1960s and 1970s were sufficient to cause mercury poisoning among several highly exposed community members. The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch completed extensive annual monitoring for mercury in Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong First Nations, as well as other nearby communities, between 1971 and 2000.
Indigenous Services Canada’s Environmental Health Officer conducts regular health visits in Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong, including ongoing surveillance of the community's drinking water system. Kenora Chief's Advisory annually monitors the communities’ drinking water systems for chemical parameters under a devolution agreement. Mercury has never been detected in any of the Grassy Narrows drinking water samples.
In response to the community’s request for immediate suicide prevention crisis support, the Department is providing $618,226 under Jordan’s Principle to Kitapinoonjiiminaanik Family Services, to address the immediate mental health needs of children and youth in Grassy Narrows. The Department also provided a permanent increase in Medical Transportation to ensure community members can access treatment where provided.
$9 million was identified in Budget 2017 for the construction of a mercury treatment centre and funding was provided to Grassy Narrows First Nation to undertake a feasibility study. The final report outlined that a long-term care facility and specialized medical services were required to improve health outcomes in the community. Additional funding will be required to support the construction and operations of the mercury treatment centre.
On April 2, 2020, Minister Miller and Chief Rudy Turtle of the Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek signed a framework agreement to provide federal support to the community to support a mercury care home. This facility will provide access to health services to meet the needs of community residents who are living with methylmercury poisoning by providing a facility where they can access specialized care, close to home.
The Framework Agreement outlines mechanisms for improved coordination, cooperation, operational and technical support in the provision of health services to residents of the community.
Through this framework agreement, ISC will provide $19.5 million to Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek towards the construction of the mercury care home, supporting a design the community envisioned.
Furthermore, ISC is working towards obtaining additional funding to support operations of the mercury care home for the next 30 years.
The implementation of elements of the Framework Agreement have begun and the community is anticipating hiring a Professional Project Manager as next steps for the project.

If pressed:
• Building a mercury treatment facility in the community is an absolute priority for our government and we are pleased with the progress made to-date including the signing of a historical Framework Agreement.
• We are also providing enhanced health services to individuals in the community, including additional nurses and increased mental health supports.
• We continue to work with community representatives and leadership on advancing the next phases of the mercury care home project.

Mercury-related Data :
• We are committed to ensuring that the residents of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong have access to their community mercury-related data.
• Personal medical information that includes mercury data has been, and will continue to be, provided to individuals.
• We continue to offer free analysis of hair and blood samples to all residents of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong, at their request.
• We will continue to work with community leadership and health services to answer questions and provide support to individuals in the community.

If pressed on Lancet Article
• As acknowledged in the article, the Department was pleased to have actively supported the community and this research.
• With the support of the community leadership, ISC worked closely with Dr. Mergler by providing foundation data to aid in investigating the long-term health impacts of historic mercury exposure on the Grassy Narrows community members.
• These data were shared at the request of Dr. Merger, in accordance with the Canadian Privacy Act and as supported by Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief and Council.

If pressed further on the Lancet study:
• Dr. Mergler had obtained approval from the Health Canada Research Ethics Board to allow for the release and use of the identifiable data without prior consent.
• The release was allowed under the Privacy Act as the purpose of Dr. Mergler's research project is consistent with the original purpose of the data collection, to determine the health impacts of mercury exposure in the community of Grassy Narrows.
• With the support of the community’s leadership this data was shared in summer 2019. The data was not released to the community as a whole.
• Dr. Mergler is legally responsible for complying with all appropriate privacy legislation.