Evidence of meeting #141 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was community.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
Can I add to that?
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
Is there a way that I can recommend a motion?
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
Okay. Thanks.
Can I suggest one?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
You can suggest one to a member, President Cardinal, and a member of the committee can then propose it during their speaking time.
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
That's perfect.
I'd like to propose—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
If you could write it out, sir, and give it to one of the members, they'll do it for you and we'll gladly present it.
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
I want everybody to hear it.
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
Okay. I'll do that, then. Thanks.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you very much, President Cardinal.
Next I'll turn the floor over to Mr. Rogers.
Mr. Rogers, the floor is yours. You have five minutes.
I have a point of order from Mr. Badawey first.
Liberal
Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON
I have some advice for Mr. Cardinal.
If you add it into one of your answers or even your comments, it automatically goes, as a part of your testimony, to the analysts. Then when we get to the final report, it will be added to it and a recommendation can come out of it.
Conservative
Laila Goodridge Conservative Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB
On the same point of order, can we let Mr. Cardinal give his proposed motion?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Your microphone is on, sir. You can turn it into a suggestion to the chair, and the analysts will write it down. We'll use it when we're analyzing all that was said during the testimony, sir.
President, Board of Directors, Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I recommend a motion that $25 million be allocated for the remediation of the big dock wharf in Fort Chipewyan and that there be a constant funding agreement for the next 50 years so the three nations are able to maintain the dock.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you very much. That's now on the record, and it's something the analysts heard.
I'll turn the floor over to you now, Mr. Rogers.
December 3rd, 2024 / 5:40 p.m.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to our witnesses today.
I certainly sympathize with you and your frustrations on this particular issue. Based on your testimony, Chief Adam, it has obviously been around for a long time. I really appreciate your opening remarks about not pointing fingers at anybody. It has been successive governments doing this, and what you're here for today is to find a solution to the problem. That's what we want as well.
Given that Transport Canada refused to dredge the dock area, as you articulated, and given your suggestion based on that—you were talking about doing it yourselves and then you couldn't—I just want to ask you this very simply: What are some of your recommendations or suggestions to this committee that we could bring forward going forward?
Any of you are welcome to answer that.
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation
I'm glad you mentioned recommendations, because we have some recommendations for you to take forward.
What we recommend to Transport Canada is that they share all studies and reports on the big dock that have been kept from us. If there are more, send them to us.
Come to our community to address our citizens and apologize to them about what has happened over the years.
Prepare a work plan to remediate the environmental contamination of the big dock. This is to be informed by the new environmental study conducted by the three nations of Fort Chipewyan using indigenous criteria for human health and environmental risk assessment. This test must include the entire waterfront in and around the big dock area. That means testing not only the big dock but the outside of it as well during the environmental risk assessment.
The extent of the contamination was never defined in the 2017 study. It only said that the dock was for commercial use. It was never for recreational or community use. That was only based on Transport Canada using it commercially. We want to know what kind of health study there was, because our kids have been playing there ever since then. It says that if you start mixing up the sediments, it's going to be more harmful to human health than if they were left undisturbed.
Redesign and repair the big dock so it's suitable for recreation and commercial traffic, as well as for emergency egress passage. That means we'll have safe passage in and out of the community if there is an emergency situation. Also, have it be recreational so our kids can swim in that area, because not everybody is going to control their kids.
Immediately test all drinking water wells in the impacted area highlighted in the 2017 report that are said to be in jeopardy of contamination.
Install signage on Transport Canada property notifying residents of the risk posed by swimming, fishing and harvesting. Why did we as a community have to put up signage for Transport Canada stating that this water is contaminated? You should have done that yourselves.
Dredge the harbour and the channel in Lake Athabasca so it's suitable and safe for marine traffic, meaning that if we have to use it to get out of the community in an emergency situation, we are able to do so.
Present an evacuation plan, including the installation of a temporary dock while the remediation construction is ongoing. We need a dock in place while this remediation is happening with the existing dock.
Reimburse nations for all expenses incurred when they conducted their own environmental studies of the big dock. That's related to their review of the 2017 report.
Undertake an internal investigation into why residents were not informed of a contaminated site in the centre of their community as soon as officials learned of this problem. Report the findings of this investigation to the residents of Fort Chipewyan, with commitments demonstrating how such inaction will never be allowed to happen again, and what disciplinary actions have been taken against those responsible. There have been none so far.
Follow through with all recommendations in the 2017 study.
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
Mr. Chair, I want to make one comment. Then Ms. Tuccaro can probably make a comment.
Liberal
Liberal
Churence Rogers Liberal Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL
It's important to the committee that all of these ideas, recommendations, solutions and suggestions are submitted in writing so that we make no mistake about what you people are saying.
Go ahead, Ms. Tuccaro.
Councillor, Mikisew Cree First Nation
Thank you.
I'd like to add that we're looking for capacity funding for mental health support to address the anxiety and fears instilled in our people by all of the stuff going on that's tied to the contamination.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Thank you very much, Councillor Tuccaro.
I saw Ms. Olsgard's hand up.
Are you having a technical issue, Ms. Olsgard?