MCK offers suggestions to City of Montreal to avoid dumping of raw sewage

10/08/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that a letter has been sent to Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre expressing concern over the city�s plan to dump an estimated eight (8) billion liters of raw sewage into the St. Lawrence River as part of the project to dismantle a major expressway.

The letter was sent on 30, Seskehk�:wa/September and signed by Chief Clinton Phillips, who is responsible for the Environment file for the MCK.

�We can appreciate that financial reasons may be the basis for this decision, and we ourselves understand the need to work within limited budgets,� said Chief Phillips in his letter. �An alternative solution will inevitably be more costly but we suggest that the larger environmental cost be considered in your decision making.�

The MCK is suggesting that the city consider the option of installing a high-capacity pump that could bypass the construction area or, at a minimum, a holding tank to allow solid matter to settle.

�We strongly believe that creative solutions can be found to minimize the impacts,� he continued. �Please do the right thing for the health of the environment, which we all share.�