Fight against N.L.'s Muskrat Falls project comes to Toronto

Muskrat Falls was always a place whereKelly Morrissey was able to find solace.

"There was a path you could walk down there and go and sit right on the falls. It was very beautiful, but of course that's all underwater now," Morrissey said.

Morrissey's favourite sitting place was flooded after the InnuNation of Labrador signed an agreementwith Nalcor Energy, Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial energy corporation, to develop a hydroelectric dam at the falls. The dealwas sanctioned by the province in 2012.

In order to build the dam, the land surrounding the falls needed to be flooded, eventually creatinga 41-square-kilometre reservoir. But despite assurances from Nalcor that the environmental impacts would be minimal, local communities wereworried the flooding of the area wouldresult inmethylmercurybeing released into the local water supply.

Morrissey is one of the people who will be part ofa panel discussion, described by organizers as "an urgent discussion on the struggle at Muskrat Falls,"slated for Sunday evening inToronto, with a peaceful demonstration vigil planned forthe following morning.

The event is sponsored by the Peace and Social Action Committee of Toronto Monthly Meeting, Homes not Bombs, Toronto Action for Social Change, and the Ottawa Muskrat Solidarity Committee.

Competing studies

Morrissey, a Nunatsiavummiuk Inuit woman from Labrador, saidwhen her community first received news about the project, Nalcorpresentedstudies assuring the community ofminimal environmental impacts from the dam.

However, a study out of Harvard showed the possibility that much highermethylmercurylevels than predicted by the Nalcorstudy could flood the main water supply should the land be flooded without proper preparation. It wouldthen run downriver and affectboth Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Labrador, the study said.

The increase in methylmercurywouldbe "sharp,"according to the study, and remain high for decadesunless the land is completely cleared before flooding continues.

"Ways of life that have existed are under grave threat. Once you introduce that mercury into the food web that's relied on by the Inuit and Innu ... so much of eating and hunting and trapping is all wrapped up in tradition and in culture," said Matthew Behrens, one of the organizers of the upcoming panel discussion and vigil.

Nalcorresponds

Nalcor responded to the concerns about possible poisoning in April of last year, after the release of the Harvard study.

Gilbert Bennett, vice-president of the Lower Churchill Project, said some of the findings in the study were consistent withNalcor'sfindingsbut added,"we do not predict that creation of the MuskratFalls reservoir will heighten risk to people in Lake Melville."

Nalcor will "continue to monitor and measure mercury levels in the environment as long as necessary, including in fish, seals and people. We will continue to collaborate with regulators and work with stakeholders on this important topic," he said.

If levels do increase, the corporation has said it will issue warnings about consuming fish or seal.

That's not good enough, said Behrens. "Would you feelit's acceptable to introduce methylmercury into the Toronto water supply and just advise people to monitor the levels when they want to drink some water, or watchsome fish?"

The project has sparked demonstrations and hunger strikes, and put pressure on provincial politicians to force Nalcor to clear the entire area before flooding it.

While Nalcor did partially clear the area, residents are worriedmercury levels will spike when the reservoir is fully flooded.

Panel discussion

For people who live in the southern parts of Canada, it might be difficult for them to understand both the cultural and socioeconomic impactsthe Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam has on those living in the North, said Morrissey.

"Harvesting from the land not only is essential to maintaining your family because the cost of food is so expensive in the North, but it's a cultural issue of concern," Morrissey said.

"These are lands that have been passed from generation to generation. My family hadtrap linesup there that are no longer accessible because of this dam," she added.

Spreading awareness about the events surroundingMuskrat Falls and how they'reaffecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous communitiesis integral to both Morrissey and Behrens.

"People like myself, and a lot of us who are not in the area, need to step up to the plate and start engaging a lot more in public education," said Behrens, who is non-Indigenous.

"This is affecting many different populations. It's just very important that we be aware that not only are Indigenous people being affected but this is a human rights issue of concern," said Morrissey.

The panel will take place on Sunday evening from 7 p.m. at the Canadian Friends Service Committee, 60 Lowther Ave. in Toronto.

The vigil is planned forMonday morning at 11 a.m. at the constituency office of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett at 1650 Yonge St.