Chiefs meeting with independent panel to discuss dumping of raw sewage

10/29/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to advise the community that Chiefs Clinton Phillips and Christine Zachary-Deom will be in Montreal today to meet with an Experts Panel (independent scientific review) and Environment Canada to discuss the City of Montreal’s plan to dump raw sewage into the St. Lawrence River.

“Again we find ourselves in the position of protecting the environment and to defend the rights of our people,” said Chief Phillips, who is responsible for environmental issues on behalf of the MCK. “It is disturbing that the bodies conducting this scientific review failed to contact us in this important matter. Had we not sent a letter to Ottawa reminding them of their duty to consult, today’s opportunity would not have happened.”

“Nonetheless, today we’ll remind them that we cannot accept such blatant disregard for the environment,” he continued. “Community groups, individuals and the MCK have been very clear in our position.”

The MCK wishes to make it clear that today’s appearance by the two chiefs is not to be considered as ‘consultation’ but, rather, as information sharing and the articulation of the MCK’s position on the matter. 

The meeting takes place at the offices of Environment Canada.