The impact of the oil spill in Gogama is becoming more obvious as the ice begins to melt, and the community is still dealing with the aftermath of the March 14th train derailment. Those comments come from Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, who is raising concerns over Northern safety.
CN has given some details about the clean up process, but Gélinas is asking why the province has been silent. She says as the water starts to flow we can see a big mess, with oil floating on the water.
She is also raising concerns over the toxicity of fish in the area. Pickerel season starts soon, and there are questions about whether or not the fish are safe to eat.
“Many of the good people of Gogama and Mattagami area depend on fishing, hunting, camping and tourism for their livelihoods,” said Gélinas. “Right now they feel abandoned by their government”.
Gélinas is looking for some more leadership from the government on a wide range of safety issues in North, including the train derailment and access to search and rescue helicopters.
Photo: Oil in the water near the train derailment site, courtesy of France Gélinas