Carney's Comments Draw Sharp Criticism
A woman from Grassy Narrows First Nation — who lives with the daily effects of mercury poisoning — is demanding a formal apology from Prime Minister Mark Carney after he made a remark during a March protest that he could "outlast" her.
The comment, widely perceived as dismissive, has reignited anger over what many advocates describe as the federal government's long-standing failure to take the mercury crisis in Grassy Narrows seriously.
Decades of Poisoning, Decades of Waiting
Grassy Narrows (Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek), located in northwestern Ontario near Kenora, has been dealing with the consequences of mercury dumping since the 1960s, when a paper mill upstream contaminated the English-Wabigoon River system. Residents have suffered from Minamata disease — a severe neurological condition caused by mercury poisoning — for generations.
Despite repeated calls for cleanup, compensation, and a care home for those most severely affected, community members say meaningful action has been slow and insufficient.
The Protest and the Remark
In March, Grassy Narrows residents and supporters held a demonstration pressing the federal government to do more. It was during this protest that Carney reportedly made the "outlast" comment — a remark that struck many as tone-deaf given the context: a community whose members are physically suffering and whose elders have spent decades fighting for justice.
The woman at the centre of the apology demand says the comment was hurtful and reflects a broader attitude of dismissal toward Indigenous communities seeking accountability.
Calls for Accountability
Indigenous rights advocates and opposition politicians have backed the call for an apology, arguing that language matters — especially when directed at people whose health has been compromised by industrial negligence and federal inaction.
For Grassy Narrows, the issue is deeply personal. Many residents can point to family members who walk with difficulty, struggle to speak, or require full-time care as a result of mercury exposure. The community has also fought hard in recent years to win a say over logging in their territory, recognizing that further environmental harm compounds existing trauma.
What Comes Next
As of now, Carney's office has not issued a formal apology. Advocates say they will continue to press the issue and are watching closely to see whether the new Liberal government under Carney will take a different approach to the mercury file than its predecessors.
For Grassy Narrows, the demand for an apology is about more than words — it's about recognition that their suffering is real, their fight is legitimate, and that no prime minister should signal he's prepared to simply wait them out.
Source: CBC News
