Home / Health / MLA Demands Action on NWT School Water Lead Contamination
MLA Demands Action on NWT School Water Lead Contamination
28 May
Summary
- MLA Weyallon Armstrong urges direct resident contact regarding lead exposure.
- Lead exposure can cause permanent damage, especially to children's development.
- Mackenzie Mountain School found 18 of 22 water fixtures above lead limits.
As testing continues to reveal elevated lead levels in school drinking water across the Northwest Territories, MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong is advocating for the government to directly notify residents who may have been exposed. She specifically asked the Health Minister to identify and contact former students, staff, and residents impacted by the lead contamination.
Weyallon Armstrong highlighted Health Canada's findings that even low-level lead exposure can lead to significant health issues. These include developmental and behavioural problems in children, and reduced cognition and increased blood pressure in adults. She stressed the importance of direct communication given the potential for permanent damage.
In response to concerns, Health Minister Lesa Semmler advised that individuals should contact their local health providers for health assessments and possible lead testing. Semmler indicated that public service announcements have been made since the initial detection of lead in October. She suggested it is up to the public to access the free healthcare services available.
Recent testing has identified Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells as the latest affected institution, with 18 out of 22 water fixtures exceeding Health Canada's guidelines for lead. This follows an October protocol launch after initial concerns at Yellowknife schools, with over two dozen schools now found to have unsafe levels of lead or copper in their drinking water.
