MPP Mamakwa statement on Premier Doug Ford’s silence on Grassy Narrows

TREATY 3 TERRITORY: Ontario NDP Deputy Leader, Sol Mamakwa, released the following statement on Premier Ford’s ongoing failure to provide mercury justice to the people of Grassy Narrows:

“Last week I joined Chief Rudy Turtle, Grassy Narrows First Nations elders and youth, and thousands of supporters on their annual River Run.

We walk to show Grassy Narrows that they are not alone in their fight for mercury justice. We walk because the English and Wabigoon Rivers have not been remediated. We walk because the fish that the Grassy Narrows people eat are full of mercury poison. We walk because the Dryden mill is still releasing chemicals into the river that are poisoning the people of Grassy Narrows.

We walk because the people of Grassy Narrows have travelled to Queen’s Park time and time again, and the Premier continues to remain silent on their demands. We walk to demand that treaty and inherent rights be upheld in the face of project proposals upstream from Grassy Narrows that would harm their territory.

And we walk because the young people of Grassy Narrows can’t wait any longer for justice.

Before you put on an orange shirt next Monday, think about the people of Grassy Narrows.

As a province, we should be deeply ashamed of what this government is allowing to happen in Grassy Narrows. We should be ashamed that every time Grassy Narrows people come to Queen’s Park to advocate for justice, they leave with no real answers from this government.

Premier Ford, will you end the poisoning of Grassy Narrows, or will you continue to hide from your responsibility?”