Indigenous-led Health Study in Canada

By Nia Williams

(Reuters) – Canada will fund an Indigenous-led study into how oil sands development impacts the health of local communities, the government announced on Wednesday. This follows a tailings water leak from an Imperial Oil site, raising pollution concerns.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault stated that Ottawa would allocate C$12 million ($8.71 million) over 10 years for the Fort Chipewyan Health Study. This may include an assessment of cancer risk for communities downstream of the oil sands region.

Fort Chipewyan is one of several Indigenous communities in remote Northern Alberta. Last year, these communities learned that tailings water—a toxic mixture of bitumen, sand, and residual bitumen—had been seeping for months from Imperial’s Kearl mining site.

For years, these communities have reported higher rates of cancer and other health issues such as autoimmune diseases, skin irritations, and severe arthritis. Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation mentioned that his community called for a health study as far back as 1992.

If the study highlights impacts on communities from the oil sands, it could compel federal and provincial governments as well as companies to enhance environmental and health measures. Guilbeault noted, “That would be the only reasonable course of action.” He shared the firsthand experiences of how the Kearl mine spill has impacted local communities, emphasizing that these concerns are longstanding.

Nearly two-thirds of Canada’s 5 million barrels per day of crude oil output come from the oil sands; Imperial is one of the largest producers, alongside Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

An Imperial spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s support for the health study, expressing willingness to participate in efforts to improve understanding and confidence in the industry.

Pathways Alliance, representing Canada’s six largest oil sands producers, acknowledged the leaders’ wish to gain information about community health and the region.

The study aims to develop solid data regarding the health and environmental impacts of oil sands, with specific objectives to be defined by the communities involved.

Guilbeault mentioned that Ottawa had invited the Alberta government to assist in funding the study but had received no response. He suggested that an independent risk assessment of the tailings ponds would be valuable.

The Alberta government stated its commitment to collaborating with Indigenous partners on the health study and would pursue more information about Ottawa’s announcement.

Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro of the Mikisew Cree First Nation remarked that the health study is long overdue. He stated, “From the time they put the first shovel in the ground, all this should have been taken care of… but now we are playing catch-up 30 or 40 years on as people have died.”

($1 = 1.3779 Canadian dollars)