Grassy Narrows supporters march in Toronto seeking mercury poisoning justice

Thousands of protesters, including members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation, marched through downtown Toronto to Queen’s Park to demand justice for the Ojibwe community in northwestern Ontario. The demonstration, supported by labor unions, environmental groups, and faith-based organizations, addresses decades of mercury poisoning caused by thousands of kilograms of mercury dumped into the river system during the 1960s and 1970s.

Grassy Narrows Chief Sherry Ackabee highlighted the generational impact of the contamination, noting that one study estimated 90 per cent of the population suffers from some degree of mercury poisoning. Protesters are calling on Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney to close the Dryden Paper Mill, which is responsible for the contamination, and to provide compensation for the community.

While the mill stopped using mercury in its industrial processes in the 1970s, mercury levels downstream have not decreased significantly since the 1980s. A 2024 study from Western University indicated that emissions from the mill, such as sulphate, continue to generate methylmercury, the most toxic form of the metal, affecting the community.