Kanesatake illegal dump | An indigenous organization was ready to intervene

(Ottawa) A solution proposed by the federal government to try to resolve the problem of foul odors from the illegal Kanesatake dump has been at an impasse for months due to bickering among community leaders. The Sustainable Development Institute of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador agreed in June to coordinate efforts to mitigate these bad odors and determine the cost of decontamination work.

“We have always had good relations with the community and with both parties,” explained the Institute’s general director, Alain Bédard, cautiously in an interview. We were seen as a solution to support the community in resolving the issues of G & R Recyclage. »

The indigenous organization dedicated to protecting the environment, however, imposed two conditions after being surveyed by the government. The first was to obtain the approval of the entire Mohawk council of Kanesatake, which proved impossible due to tensions between the chiefs.

The second was to have a document signed by the owners of G & R Recyclage, Robert and Gary Gabriel, to authorize the work and ensure there was no obstruction, according to a letter from the Ministry of Indigenous Services that The Press obtained.

The foul odor emanating from the site is “the most pressing concern” for this community where approximately 1,300 people reside, according to a federal government document obtained under the Access to Information Act. “The perception is that air quality poses a health risk,” it is written.

Spill of contaminated water

Investigations of The Press in May and June revealed that brownish water flows from the G & R Recyclage site and exceeds by 144 times the concentration of sulphides considered safe for the survival of fish. The dump belongs to the Gabriel brothers, both of whom have long criminal pasts.

In the letter to the band council, the Ministry says it is ready to finance preliminary work to mitigate odors and determine the cost of decontamination work without specifying the amount. The money would pass through the Institute which would take care of calls for tenders and coordination.

This solution was proposed to move things forward while waiting for the band council to agree on the “Oka Letter” required by Ottawa before financing the decontamination of the site. This document is the equivalent of a title deed which officially grants the Gabriel brothers the right to occupy the land where the illegal G & R Recyclage dump is located. Ottawa and Quebec demanded that they give this letter to the band council, so that the site becomes “orphan” again.

“By transferring the site to the band, we have no guarantee that the ultimate responsibility in the future will not fall on the band,” said Chief Serge Otsi Simon, one of the five dissidents within the Council, in an interview. , which retains the “Oka Letter”. He would like a firmer commitment from the federal government that it will cover the costs to “completely clean up the site.”

The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake is divided into two factions. On one side, there is the great leader Victor Bonspille and his twin sister Valerie Bonspille and, on the other, five dissident leaders. The grand chief passed a motion of censure at the end of October to exclude them and went so far as to padlock the doors of the band council offices.

He accuses the dissidents of blocking any attempt by the federal government to resolve the situation. “They are playing with the health of people, not only the Mohawks, but also those in neighboring municipalities,” he argued. “They are afraid that the government will eventually back out of any agreement and leave us with a contaminated site, but the reality is that the site is already there. »

Upcoming emergency meeting

An emergency meeting was called this Wednesday where members of the community will be able to choose between holding a general election, a by-election or governance carried out by Grand Chief Bonspille, his sister and “an interim administrative manager” .

“I hope that this will help resolve the impasse,” said the Minister responsible for Relations with First Nations and Inuit in Quebec, Ian Lafrenière, in an interview. He sent a letter to the seven chiefs two weeks ago to invite them to put aside their quarrels to resolve the issue of the illegal G & R Recyclage dump.

“Are we going to give them a letter that says, no matter what happens, you will never be held responsible, the answer is no,” admitted Mr. Lafrenière. Are there other things we can find for some form of comfort? Yes. »

The Quebec government estimates that decontamination of the illegal dump would cost 100 million. Ottawa has never advanced any amount.

“We are ready to team up with our partners, including the government of Quebec, and to finance the decontamination of the site and the necessary studies,” said Simon Ross, director of communications for the Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, by email. .

“It is essential for us to have the support of the community at every stage,” he added. We are ready to move forward with the Sustainable Development Institute of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, but we are also open to other solutions made by and for the community. […] We hope to be able to move forward as quickly as possible. »

A virtual meeting between federal Minister Patty Hajdu, Quebec Minister Ian Lafrenière and the chiefs of the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake at the end of June turned sour. The two factions began arguing and Minister Hajdu ended the meeting by asking them to resolve their differences, according to several sources familiar with the matter who are not authorized to speak publicly.

With the collaboration of William Leclerc and Tristan Péloquin, The Press