Update on Grassy Narrows. <div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853889792"><br></div><div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853889955">A letter of reaponse from <span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853938103">Indigenous Services Canada.</span></div><div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853889955"><font face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></font></div><div id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853889955"><font face="sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;" id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853941485">Lulu <br id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853879862"></span></font><br><div id="ymail_android_signature"><a id="ymail_android_signature_link" href="https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature">Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android</a></div> <br> <blockquote style="margin: 0 0 20px 0;"> <div style="padding: 10px 0 0 20px; margin: 10px 0 0 0; border-left: 1px solid #6D00F6;"> <div style="font-family:Roboto, sans-serif; color:#6D00F6;"> <div>----- Forwarded message -----</div> <div><b>From:</b> "Conn, Keith (SAC/ISC)" <keith.conn@canada.ca></div> <div><b>To:</b> "water.lulu@yahoo.ca" <water.lulu@yahoo.ca></div> <div style="display:"none""><b>Cc:</b> </div> <div><b>Sent:</b> Wed., 22 Jul. 2020 at 1:26 p.m.</div> <div><b>Subject:</b> Response to correspondence of September 21, 2019 re: Grassy Narrows (MIN-A3233)</div> </div> <div id="yiv8117778676">
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<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:sans-serif;">Dear Ms. Lanteigne,
</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">I am in receipt of your correspondence of September 21, 2019, to the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, regarding the situation in Grassy Narrows First Nation. I have been asked
to reply to your concerns, and I regret the delay in responding. </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">First, I would like to thank you sincerely for taking the time to write about this critical situation, and to assure you that addressing the issue of mercury contamination and its potential health
effects is a priority for the Government of Canada. The Government recognizes that the community of Grassy Narrows has been dramatically affected by mercury in the English-Wabigoon river system and that members of the community suffer health issues to this
day. We share the community’s goal of finding a solution that meets their needs.</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">As you already know, on November 29, 2017, the Minister of Indigenous Services Canada committed to fund a Mercury Health Facility for members of Grassy Narrows First Nation. As a first step, funding
was provided to the community to complete a Functional Assessment Study for the Mercury Health Facility.
</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">On December 4, 2019, Minister Miller met with Chief Rudy Turtle of Grassy Narrows to discuss next steps to advance work being undertaken to support the
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">specific health and assisted-living needs of Grassy Narrows First Nation. The Department remains committed to working in close partnership with the community to reach an agreement that will
adequately meet their short- and long-term health needs and ensure residents get the required services as soon as possible.
</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">I am pleased to report that on April 2, 2020, Grassy Narrows First Nation and the Government of Canada signed a framework agreement to build a $19.5M mercury treatment home. This facility will provide
community members with access to specialized health care services closer to their community and family support systems.</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">Regarding the community’s water supply, rest assured that the issue of safe drinking water is a priority for the Government and we are committed to fix this longstanding problem in Grassy Narrows
First Nation. Indigenous Services Canada is aware of the issue at the community water plant, which is why a precautionary Water Advisory was recommended to Grassy Narrows’ leadership. Officials in this Department are working with the community and other partners
to find a permanent solution. A feasibility study is currently underway to develop longer-term solutions and provide direction on the scope and details of the repairs needed.</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">From 2015 to 2018 the governments of Canada and Ontario funded a community-led health assessment to determine the health status of community members, with a component of the study focusing on mercury.
<s> </s></span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">The Community Health Assessment was tabled in November 2017, with an additional Children’s report executive summary released in May 2018. Both reports included recommendations, one of which is to
establish a Health and Well-Being Table to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the recommendations. These recommendations included the establishment of food security programs. Indigenous Services Canada is continuing discussions with the community
concerning support for the establishment of the Health and Well-Being Table.</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="text-indent:36.0pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">In closing, I recognize the lasting effects of mercury contamination on the families of Grassy Narrows First Nation and wish to
assure you that the federal government is committed to working with the community’s leadership to address the situation and to ensure that the immediate and long-term health needs of the members of this community are met.</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">Sincerely,
</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">Keith Conn</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;">First Nations and Inuit Health Branch</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;" id="yMail_cursorElementTracker_1595853908217">Indigenous Services Canada / Government of Canada</span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="yiv8117778676MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:sans-serif;"> </span></p>
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</div> </div> </blockquote></div>