Question Period Note: Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) – Mercury Care Home

• The Government is committed to supporting wellness of the
residents of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek and
Wabaseemoong.
• That is why our Government proposed $200.1 million to support
the construction and operations of mercury care facilities in
both Asubpeeschoseewagong and Wabaseemoong, and also
includes funding for a new water treatment facility in
Asubpeeschoseewagong.
• On April 2, 2020, Canada and Asubpeeschoseewagong signed
the Mercury Care Home Framework Agreement, which commits
Canada to providing $19.5 million for the detailed design and
construction of a mercury care home. The design was chosen by
the community based on the unique needs of their residents.

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 Asubpeeschoseewagong (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 Asubpeeschoseewagong 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
Asubpeeschoseewagong 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 Asubpeeschoseewagong 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
Asubpeeschoseewagong Grassy Narrows. The Department also provided a permanent
increase in Medical Transportation to ensure community members can access treatment where
provided.
Budget 2017 invested $9 million for the construction of a mercury treatment facility and funding
was provided to Asubpeeschoseewagong 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. In April 2020, Canada and
Asubpeeschoseewagong signed the Mercury Care Home Framework Agreement committing
$19.5 million for the detailed design and construction of a mercury care home. However,
additional funding will be required to support the revised total estimated cost to complete
construction of the mercury treatment facility.

If pressed on the Health Centre Expansion and Renovation
Project
• ISC supports infrastructure to deliver quality health care
programs and services and commits to health and wellness in
First Nation communities.
• ISC has revised the project schedule to reflect the First Nation’s
decision to revise the project requirements to permit a complete
new build and demolition of the existing clinic.

If pressed on funding for the Mercury Care Home
• The government signed an amendment to the Mercury Care
Home Framework Agreement on July 26, 2021.
• The amendment commits $68.9M in funding to support the
operations, maintenance and specialized service delivery of the
mercury care home in the community, along with a periodic
funding review that may be required to fulfill the goals of the
mercury care home.

If pressed on the progress on Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy
Narrows First Nation) Mercury Care Home construction
• To date, ISC has transferred $5 million of the $19.5 million in
capital funding to Asubpeeschoseewagong for the detailed
design and construction for the Mercury Care Home. In 2022, ISC
re-profiled the remaining capital funds ($14.5 million) to reflect the
community’s funding proposal submitted in 2021.
• In September 2022, Asubpeeschoseewagong representatives
submitted an $81.6 million proposal for a revised facility design
with several additional specifications.
• ISC recognizes the urgency for the care home and this project is
a priority for the department.
• After construction begins, it is expected to take
Asubpeeschoseewagong 24-36 months to complete the
construction.

If pressed on the services to be provided in
Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows First Nation) Mercury
Care Home:
• Asubpeeschoseewagong has established an expert panel to
develop a Detailed Services Plan.
• Mercury Care Working Group has been created by
Asubpeeschoseewagong with federal and provincial
representatives to act as an advisory body to provide support to
the development of the Detailed Services Plan for the health
programs and services to be provided from the mercury care
home.
• In the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, Canada committed to fund
$68.9M to support the operations, maintenance and specialized
service delivery at the mercury care home.

If pressed on Mercury-related data
• We are committed to ensuring that the residents of
Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows First Nation) and
Wabaseemoong have access to their community’s mercuryrelated
data.
• Personal medical information that includes mercury data has
been, and will continue to be, provided to individuals upon
request.
• The government continues to offer free analysis of hair samples
to all residents of Asubpeeschoseewagong and Wabaseemoong
at their request.
• In collaboration with the Kenora Chiefs Advisory and at the
request of Wabaseemoong, a nurse takes hair samples once a
year from interested community members and meets with the
individuals tested to share with them their results.

If pressed on results:
• Since the regular testing was established in Wabaseemoong,
levels of mercury in hair have been within acceptable limits.
• That said, it is recognized that both communities are still
suffering from the intergenerational impacts from mercury
poisoning.
If pressed on research initiatives in Asubpeeschoseewagong
(Grassy Narrows First Nation)
• Since the 1970s, the government has supported biomonitoring
and environmental sampling related to mercury contamination in
Asubpeeschoseewagong, including community-based research
initiatives.
• For example, in 2013, Asubpeeschoseewagong participated in
the First Nations Food, Nutrition & Environment Study which
established the first regionally representative baseline data of
the diets, food-related exposure to environmental contaminants
and body burden on mercury of First Nations in Canada.
• redacted information

If pressed on Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows First
Nation) water supply
• In December 2020, Asubpeeschoseewagong completed the
feasibility study which demonstrated the need for a new water
treatment plant, additional distribution upgrades and a new raw
water intake location.
• The Department has approved $1.2 million to support the
detailed design phase of the project. The First Nation has hired a
professional project manager to oversee the project, and is now
working to procure a qualified engineering consultant to lead the
detailed design activities.
• Through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, Canada has
committed to support this project to meet the 20 year safe
drinking water needs of the community and the New Mercury
Care Home.
• With funding support from the Department, the community
completed interim upgrades to their existing water treatment
facility in September 2020. This work resolved three drinking
water advisories affecting the community, and restored access
to safe drinking water for all residents.