Government fails to disclose reports on all Abitibi contamination sites,
 charges Opposition

Yvonne Jones, Opposition Leader and MHA for the District of Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair, says government has been negligent in not revealing they had reports which exposed the full extent of pollution on former Abitibi properties, particularly the scope of contamination at the mill site in Grand Falls-Windsor.

The Opposition Leader challenged the Minister of Environment in the House of Assembly today over the lack of transparency on this issue and why she chose to be selective in presenting information. Remediation plans for Buchans were made public but not for the Grand Falls mill site, where reports identify heavy metals and other toxins polluting 16 areas exceeding human safety guidelines.  The Opposition was permitted by the minister to only view, but not copy, these reports this week.

“The minister felt it important to bring the Buchans contaminated soil testing forward on a timely basis, but failed to act similarly so the people of the Grand Falls-Windsor region would be apprised as a precautionary measure,” says Jones.  “Why would she not be concerned about potential health impacts on people near these 16 areas on the mill site and the Exploits River where   contaminates are leaching?”

“Government was aware of the full extent of all environmental liabilities since the Fall of 2009, but did not reveal to the public that they had 5 reports and not just the one on the Buchans contamination. We only became aware of the reports when we reviewed the Court decision documents relating to this government’s environmental protection orders against Abitibi. 

“The minister’s excuse that the mill site is just an industrial area and no children play in the area is indefensible and whether or not this information is only preliminary is not the point. The minister had an obligation to let the people know there were toxins in their town and allow them to take any necessary precautions to safeguard their health. Withholding this type of knowledge is negligent and irresponsible.

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