River will suffer, says chief

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Two environmental groups, Earth Wild International and Wildcanada.net, released a report in July naming Canada's 10 most endangered rivers.

The Groundhog River, 70 km southwest of Timmins, was number five on that list.

The biggest threat to the river, according to Moose Cree First Nation chief Norman Hardisty, is Falconbridge Limited, which has applied for an easement from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to put a mine effluent ditch into the river within Groundhog River Waterway Park.

The ministry would have to amend Ontario's Living Legacy Land Use Strategy, which is supposed to protect the park, in order to issue the permit to dump effluent from a proposed copper-nickel operation into the river.

Even if MNR doesn't allow the change, Falconbridge has the option to discharge treated mine water directly into the Groundhog River through a 12 to 15 km pipeline from its claim at Six Mile Rapids, near a known sturgeon spawning site. That option requires no legislative change.

Either way, the environment loses, according to Hardisty and environmentalists.

Hardisty said the place where the Groundhog River and the proposed Falconbridge project meet up is about 100 miles from the Mattagami River. The Mattagami River flows about another 50 miles before it hits the Moose River. The Moose River is the basin part of all the tributaries; where the Mattagami meets the Moose River it is another 50 miles to Moose Factory Island and Moose Cree First Nation.

"Now when we talk about the Mattagami River, there's a series of other rivers. There's the north French River, there's the Missinabi River ... quite a few of them that dump into the Moose River Basin.

"So, whatever's going to be dumped from that mine in that area ... eventually that toxic material is going to run into the Groundhog River, it's going to run into Mattagami, and then we're going to be at the receiving end."

The chief said they don't know what toxic material will be coming out of the mine, but they do know Falconbridge has obtained permits to discharge the effluent.

"How they're going to dump the toxic material is another issue. We haven't heard yet, but we know for a fact it could be ditching, and we all know that all kind of contaminants can go into ditching."

He met with Falconbridge over the summer and told mine officials, "Anything you dump out of there has to be clear water-clear, clean water."

Since then, he said the band toured the river in the vicinity of Six Mile Rapids. They talked to people who live near the sturgeon spawning area who are also concerned about potential adverse effects to fish, wildlife and habitat.

Hardisty said Falconbridge was "apologetic" for not consulting with Moose Cree, but their officials have not come out to the reserve for talks yet. The only reason an apology was forthcoming, he said, is because he turned up uninvited to a meeting between Falconbridge and another group in Timmins.

"Obviously, we're going to take a good look at what's going on ... we're going to have to do some appeal or whatever on any permit or any kind of work that's being done...We are calling for a certain water standard now; it's going to be quite a task, probably, but I know for a fact that Falconbridge behind closed doors are saying 'This project's going to go through regardless of what anybody says.'"

Hardisty also blames MNR for "not following their own rules" with respect to changing protective legislation to appease a big corporation.

A June 5 letter to Minister of Natural Resources Jerry Ouelette from the president of Timmins' Chamber of Commerce, Fred Barabas, is in stark opposition to the views of Moose Cree First Nation.

"On behalf of the 450 business members of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to express our deep and unwavering support for consideration by the Ministry of Natural Resources to change the 1999 Land Use boundary of the recommended Groundhog River Provincial Park (OLL site P11569)," Fred Baraba wrote.

He said the people he represents "are conscientious of the environment and have no intention of polluting our own backyard," but "Barriers must be removed at every level to allow this economic development to happen to create much needed jobs in the North. The technology of today allows companies such as Falconbridge to open, operate and decommission a mining property that will satisfy all environmental concerns."

Another issue of concern to Moose Cree First Nation is a series of old dams built on the Groundhog tributaries in the 1930s and 1940s.

Chief Norman Hardisty acknowledges the need for electricity and jobs, but aid it can't come at the expense of the environment. "We want zero discharge; that's what we want," Hardisty said about the mining proposal. "They say they can drink that water out of there-well, I'd like to see them drink that water out of there as soon as they start their operations. I know for sure they won't do it."

Moose Cree has not tested the water yet. Hardisty said the lack of consultation "really disappoints us."