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First Nation says governments failing to protect residents

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A First Nation in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley says a promised Ontario health study needs to focus on the community surrounded by the petrochemical industry.

That’s among the steps the Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s chief and council are calling for in the wake of Toronto media reports that have raised questions about the reporting of chemical releases from area industries and the province’s enforcement of its own environmental laws.

“Parents want to make sure that their kids are always healthy and safe,” Aamjiwnaang Chief Joanne Rogers said. “That’s what we, as leaders of our community, want to ensure as well.”

Environment and Climate Change Minister Chris Ballard said in a statement the province is “committed to funding a health study to understand the localized impact of air pollution on Sarnia residents, and will be working with the communities in the coming weeks to determine how best to do that.”

Work on a Sarnia-Lambton community health study that began in 2008 stopped in June 2016 because of a lack of financial backing by the provincial and federal governments.

The effort was begun in the community and a volunteer board formed to oversee it included members from municipal councils, First Nations, labour, industry, business and community groups.

PC MPP Monte McNaughton, recently wrote to Ballard to say a health study should also include Wallaceburg and Walpole Island, communities near the Chemical Valley.

Ballard had visited Aamjiwnaang just days before the media reports set off a political storm at the legislature in Toronto.

“He met with some councilors and the environment committee, and we took him on a tour,” Rogers said.

She said Ballard was aware of the health study the community had sought, and “he indicated that was something that could be looked at if it was brought to him.”

The statement by Aamjiwnaang says it believes “a health study should focus on our community, which is surrounded by 57 industries.”

It also says the First Nation “continues to bear the risk associated with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and other regulatory agencies not fulfilling their mandate of environmental protection.”

Both the provincial and federal governments “continually fail to meaningfully engage” with the First Nation on regulations, contrary to requirements of the Constitution and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, according to the statement.

“Aamjiwnaang is offended with the continued delay in standard setting and enforcement of the Environment Protection Act, the very act that is supposed to protect us.”

Aamjiwnaang sits directly next to several oil refineries and petro-chemical facilities.

pmorden@postmedia.com

 

 

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