The Federal NDP is looking for more strict protections for the environment.
Linda Duncan is putting forward a bill she claims could prevent situations like Grassy Narrows’ mercury poisoning from happening again.
Duncan says “if that community had a voice in decisions on how that pulp and paper mill was operated decades ago and if they were told about the health impacts of putting that effluent into the river. In all likelihood we would not have the crisis we have today.”
The Edmonton-Strathcona MP is referring to the historic exposure to mercury from the English-Wabigoon River System from the old Dryden Reed Paper Mill.
Duncan says the legislation would give Canadians more rights to have a say in decisions impacting the environment and to hold the government more accountable.
She says the next federal government needs to pass the Environmental Bill of Rights, and get on board with other countries.
