By Nia Williams
(Reuters) -Canada will fund an Indigenous-led examine into how oil sands growth impacts the well being of native communities, the federal government mentioned on Wednesday, following a tailings water leak from an Imperial Oil (NYSE:) website that heightened air pollution considerations.
Atmosphere Minister Steven Guilbeault mentioned Ottawa would supply C$12 million ($8.71 million) over 10 years for the Fort Chipewyan Well being Research, which can embrace an evaluation of whether or not there are heightened dangers of most cancers for communities downstream of the oil sands area.
Fort Chipewyan is one in every of a number of Indigenous communities in distant Northern Alberta that final yr realized that tailings water – a poisonous mixture of bitumen, sand and residual bitumen – had been seeping for months from Imperial’s close by Kearl mining website.
For years these communities have reported greater charges of most cancers and different well being points together with autoimmune ailments, pores and skin irritations and extreme arthritis, Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation informed reporters on a convention name. He added that his neighborhood first known as for a well being examine in 1992.
If the examine factors to impacts on communities from the oil sands it will power the federal and provincial governments and firms to place stronger environmental and well being measures in place, Guilbeault informed reporters on the decision.
“That might be the one affordable plan of action,” he mentioned. “I’ve heard first-hand how the Kearl mine spill affected the communities but additionally how these considerations are usually not new.”
Round two-thirds of Canada’s 5 million barrels per day of crude output come from the oil sands, and Imperial is likely one of the largest producers alongside Suncor Vitality (NYSE:) and Canadian Pure (NYSE:) Sources Ltd.
“Imperial reiterates its assist and our willingness to take part within the well being examine introduced immediately by the federal authorities to enhance understanding and construct confidence in our communities relating to our business,” an Imperial spokesperson mentioned in a press release, including the corporate regrets the Kearl seepage.
Pathways Alliance, a bunch of Canada’s six largest oil sands producers, mentioned in a press release it revered the leaders’ need to hunt data on the well being of their neighborhood and the area.
The objective of the examine is to develop sturdy information analyzing the well being and environmental impacts of the oil sands, with particular aims to be developed by the communities.
Guilbeault mentioned Ottawa had invited the Alberta authorities to assist fund the examine however had not acquired any response. He added that an unbiased evaluation of the dangers from tailings ponds can be helpful.
The Alberta authorities mentioned in a press release it was dedicated to working with Indigenous companions on a well being examine and would search extra data on the examine introduced by Ottawa.
The well being examine is lengthy overdue, Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro of the Mikisew Cree (NYSE:) First Nation, mentioned on the convention name.
“From the time they put the primary shovel within the floor all this could have been taken care of … however now we’re enjoying catch-up 30 or 40 years on as individuals have died,” he mentioned.
($1 = 1.3779 Canadian {dollars})