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

10/08/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà: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, Seskehkó: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.”