Laurie in Question Period
Alberta Hansard November 13, 2007
Questions asked in the 26th Legislature of Alberta, 3rd Session by Ms. Laurie Blakeman, Alberta Liberal MLA for Edmonton-Centre, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Wellness
Water Quality in Fort Chipewyan
Ms Blakeman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A report commissioned by the Nunee health authority of Fort Chipewyan and released last week confirms high levels of arsenic, mercury, and oil-related compounds in water and wildlife. My first question is to the Minister of Environment. Dr. Timoney’s report found flaws in previous studies conducted by this government. Will the minister finally initiate an independent study of the water, wildlife, and human health in the region?
Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, obviously, the government takes issues around this concern very seriously, but the fact of the matter is that there has been ongoing monitoring of a number of indicators since the early 1990s. The regional aquatics monitoring program, or RAMP, takes literally thousands of samples on an annual basis and has been doing so, as I said, since the early 1990s.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you. My next question is to the minister of health. Mr. Speaker, there’s no denying that elevated levels of arsenic and mercury in the water and wildlife will impact the health of residents who rely heavily on this for their diet. How much harm or risk is this government willing to write off as the cost of doing business?
The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Health and Wellness.
Mr. Hancock: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The assumption in that question is invalid. There is no indication of elevated levels of either arsenic or mercury. The study that the hon. member referred to in her first question basically goes back and looks at some of the older data, which has already been dealt with. We’ve reviewed the data, we’ve had peer review processes on that data, and we’re satisfied that arsenic levels in the area are actually lower than in other areas.
In terms of the resulting health implications, which we’re obviously very concerned about, there have been allegations of higher amounts of cancer in the area. We’ve studied a hundred per cent of the mortalities in that region and discovered that they have no higher level of cancer in that area than in any other area of the province.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Blakeman: Thank you. Again to the same minister. Policy decisions, especially around rapid industrial development, have a profound impact on the health of people and the environment. Will the minister admit that conducting health impact assessments before decisions are made is more sensible and cost-effective than dealing with the consequences of unhealthy public policy?
Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Environment indicated in answering a question, there are ongoing samplings of the water and the quality of the air. It’s absolutely important to maintain a full understanding of what the cumulative impacts are in that area and in every area, particularly where there’s industrial growth. Of course, we want to know what the impacts on health are, and we do want to know those beforehand.
Our department has been working very closely with the Department of Environment and, in fact, has been leading work on, for example, the enhanced environmental health surveillance biomonitoring project. We’re involved with the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association’s ongoing human health monitoring program. We’re involved with the community exposure and health effects assessment program that was done earlier. We’re involved with the northern river basin human health monitoring program. Health monitoring is absolutely essential in any area of industrial growth.
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