Evidence of meeting #36 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was women.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Government and Industry Relations, Mikisew Cree First Nation
I'll let maybe Phil talk about—
Liberal
Scientist, Mikisew Cree First Nation
Sorry for being underdressed. I wasn't sure what to expect today.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I'm going shopping for that shirt. We're overdressed.
Scientist, Mikisew Cree First Nation
They're any contaminant or any toxin that is bioavailable to wildlife and wildlife consumers. For those communities that are remote—and there was some mention that 60% of indigenous communities in Canada are remote communities—their refrigerator's actually in the backwoods. They're drinking the water and eating the wildlife. Any contaminant like methylmercury or some of these PAHs—anything that is soluble in fat—is a great sort of metric of a contaminant that could impact some of these remote communities, because they become amplified up the food web and then they're consumed by the top consumers, who are often community members.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Okay, I'll stick with you, Phil. In your opinion, do you feel that all levels of government—federal, provincial, and indigenous—are working together, that they're playing an active role to reduce the level of these substances in your areas?
Scientist, Mikisew Cree First Nation
I believe that there's a good intention to work together, but I believe that the mechanisms by which things are facilitated to allow for this integration across governments especially is lacking.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Do you want to comment on that, Melody, or are you good?
Director, Government and Industry Relations, Mikisew Cree First Nation
No, I think that's good. I agree with Phil. The intention is there. I think it just needs to be backed up with adequate funding.
I mentioned that we do our own monitoring within our community. It's completely funded by our community. We have no funding sources from any level of government. There's a lot of talk and there seems to be a lot of will, but we really want to see it backed up with some action.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Gotcha. Thank you.
Madam Chair, if I have a moment or two—
Liberal
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
I'm looking to our indigenous witnesses for very simple yes-or-no responses, just so we can have the answer on the record.
Would your organizations support increased investments by the federal government in toxicity assessments, in evaluations of toxic load-bearing by isolated indigenous communities downstream or in proximity of industrial facilities?
Liberal
Environment and Climate Change Project Officer, Native Women's Association of Canada
Absolutely, but I can see a problem, too, because, coming from a community.... There's an ambivalence as well. Sometimes we say that we are the most studied population here, so there might be some pushback in that regard, but absolutely, because now, with the increase in contaminants, it would add to.... You also have a controlled environment, which would add to the research base.
Director, Government and Industry Relations, Mikisew Cree First Nation
Yes, absolutely.
Liberal
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
We have had witnesses come before us and suggest that CEPA ought to require an alternatives-based approach, meaning that industry should be forced to identify safer alternatives, if one can be used, when there are toxicity issues with products that are currently being used. Would your organizations be supportive of that kind of approach? If you are not in a position to answer today, I would be happy to receive a written answer later on.
Executive Director, Native Women's Association of Canada
As long as the alternatives proposed are looked at from a gender perspective....
Director, Government and Industry Relations, Mikisew Cree First Nation
Yes, I would agree. I would also like to maybe follow up with a written response to that question. I think, just from my limited understanding of science, that exploring alternatives is always a good thing. That's if I understand your question correctly.
