I believe that these two locations represent the worst in environmental cleanup in Ontario and that is saying a lot. Similarities include the largest group of victims being minorities. In the first case it is indigenous Canadians and in the second it is Old Order Mennonite farmers along the Canagagigue Creek. Neither group have political strength although certainly Canadians are becoming more aware of past indigenous injustices such as residential schools, the Sixtys Scoop and more through their organizing and speaking out. Old Order Mennonites on the other hand keep a low profile and most definitely do not speak out on either public issues or on their own issues.
Last Saturdays K-W Record had a front page article titled "Truth and reconciliation calls for perseverance, personal commitment". Author Gary Whetung wrote eloquently about the Grassy Narrows community near the English-Wabigoon River system and the devastating effects of intentional mercury poisoning by Dryden Chemicals Ltd. This assault upon their mental and physical health was inflicted by the disposal of waste mercury, part of the paper production process.
Uniroyal Chemical purchased their Elmira, Ontario property in the 1940s which sits on both sides of the Canagagigue Creek approximately five miles upstream from its' discharge into the Grand River. At one point the Creek was almost devoid of all life from the dumping of toxic chemicals by Uniroyal both directly and indirectly into the Creek. To this day successive municpal, regional and provincial governments have pretended to want to clean up both the Elmira Aquifers and the Canagagigue Creek. It has mostly been lots of talk and particularly regarding the Creek, very little action. Uniroyal knew full well that the downstream neighbours would not raise a stink over the mess and stink that they Uniroyal would send to them. The name of the game has been Delay, Delay & more Delay combined with Lie, Lie and more Lies.
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