Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, Chief Randy Fobister and elected council of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (ANA) met in community to sign an amendment to the Mercury Care Home Framework Agreement, which builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring that ANA residents who are living with methylmercury poisoning receive the care they need while staying closer to home, community and family.

“I am honoured to have had the opportunity to meet with Chief Randy Fobister in Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek to reinforce the commitments that Canada has made to the community and its leadership; acknowledge the recommendations of its Community Health Assessment Report; support the construction, operation, maintenance and specialized service delivery of a mercury care home; and ensure that the immediate and long-term health needs of the community are met.”

The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Indigenous Services

• Methylmercury contamination in the English-Wabigoonriver system, discovered in 1970, caused very high exposure among people residing in ANA and WIN. This resulted in the negotiation and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement in November 1985. The agreement was supported by the passage of the federal Grassy Narrows and Islington Indian Bands Mercury Pollution Claims Settlement Act and the Ontario English and Wabigoon River Systems Mercury Contamination Settlement Agreement Act in 1986. These Acts provided for the establishment of a Mercury Disability Fund and a Mercury Disability Board to oversee the administration of the trust fund for benefits paid to claimants showing symptoms of mercury exposure.

• The federal government and Ontario provincial government, together with two pulp and paper mill companies (Reed Limited and Great Lakes Forest Products Ltd), paid a total of $16.67 million in a one-time compensation payment to WIN and ANA.

• In 2018, ANA completed a feasibility study for the mercury care home and released the results of the Community Health Assessment Report, which was conducted between December 2016 and March 2017. The plan, study and report have been vital in demonstrating the complex health needs of the community and in supporting the need for a mercury care home that offers specialized services.

• The range of federally and provincially funded programs and services that are expected to be provided in the facility will be determined following the negotiation and development of a Detailed Services Plan with the community, including their newly hired Director of Care, and the Government of Ontario, through the established Mercury Care Working Group.

• Through the Fall Economic Statement 2020, the Government of Canada proposed $200.1 million for the construction and operation of mercury care facilities in both ANA and the neighbouring community, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations. The investment also includes funding for a new water treatment facility in ANA to ensure the system has the capacity to meet the water consumption needs of the community.

Related products

• The Government of Canada and Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) sign a framework agreement to build a mercury care home
• Asubpeechoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) ends all long term drinking water advisories to provide safe and clean drinking water for all residents

Associated links

• Achieving clean drinking water in First Nations communities
• Investing in First Nations community infrastructure
• Lifecycle of a First Nation community infrastructure project
• Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map

For more information, media may contact:

Adrienne Vaupshas
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Indigenous Services
adrienne.vaupshas@canada.ca

Media Relations
Indigenous Services Canada
819-953-1160
SAC.media.ISC@canada.ca

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