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English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Funding Act, 2017.

Country/Territory
Canada
Territorial subdivision
Ontario
Document type
Legislation
Date
2017 (2019)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Environment gen., Water
Keyword
Surface water Freshwater pollution Indigenous peoples Hazardous substances Public participation Special fund Monitoring Freshwater resources management Pollution control
Geographical area
Americas, Arctic, Asia and the Pacific, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic
Abstract

The purpose of this Act is to provide for, (a) the funding of the remediation of contaminants in the English and Wabigoon Rivers; (b) the co-operative management of that funding by Ontario and the two First Nations that have been most directly and significantly affected by historic mercury contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers; and (c) an opportunity for other Indigenous communities that have a historic relationship with the English and Wabigoon Rivers to be involved in discussions in respect of that funding. A panel is established, to be known in English as the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel and in French as Comité d’assainissement des rivières English et Wabigoon. The purposes of the panel are to, (a) advise the Minister on, (i) the establishment of the Trust, (ii) the practices and procedures for the panel referred to in subsection (16), (iii) the criteria for the payment of funds from the Trust referred to in subsection 8 (1), and (iv) the development of remediation goals and objectives; (b) issue written directions to the trustee requiring the release of funds from the trust; (c) prepare the report described in section 11; and (d) perform other functions specified in this Act or required by the Minister. The Minister shall invite the band councils of each of the following First Nations to appoint two representatives to be members of the panel: 1. Grassy Narrows First Nation. 2. Wabaseemoong Independent Nations. The Minister shall establish in writing a trust to be known in English as the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Trust and in French as Fiducie pour l’assainissement des rivières English et Wabigoon. The Trust shall, on such terms and conditions as the Minister may specify after considering the advice, if any, of the panel, provide for the funding of the remediation of contaminants in the English and Wabigoon Rivers, including the following activities: 1. Preventing or reducing the risk of a discharge of contaminants. 2. Reducing the presence, concentration or bio-availability of contaminants, including their presence and concentration in fish. 3. Post-remediation monitoring. 4. Other remediation activities, consistent with the purpose of the Trust, that may be specified by the Minister.

Full text
English
Website
www.ontario.ca