Noticeably absent from the about 100 people gathered at Sarnia’s Clifford Hansen Fire Station Sunday were representatives of Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
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For years, First Nation members have danced, drummed and remembered at solemn National Day of Mourning events in Sarnia, recognizing people injured, made sick or killed on the job.
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“They are not coming here today,” amid a local state of emergency, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley told the crowd.
“I do hope next when we gather in Centennial Park that they will join us again,” he said. “Because we’re on their side.”
Aamjiwnaang administration and council shared a state of emergency declaration Thursday, amid ongoing emissions of carcinogenic benzene — a natural petroleum component, primarily used to make polystyrene — from INEOS Styrolution in Sarnia, in the wake, the notice says, of several Environment Ministry orders to curb emissions.
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INEOS announced it was temporarily shutting down its Sarnia facility “to conduct maintenance and address a mechanical issue,” after Aamjiwnaang officials first raised the alarm about high benzene levels April 16.
A company press release Saturday said INEOS prioritizes the well-being of the community and its employees, recognizes the concerns voiced from Sarnia, is “diligently collaborating with local agencies to thoroughly assess all relevant data and comply with prescribed emission limits,” and is “ committed to operating responsibly and transparently.”
Bradley had a different take, after, he said, city and company officials had a “terse” meeting Friday.
“It was like going back in time,” he said about that meeting.
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Company officials “were arguing the standards were too high,” Bradley said. “That was an argument you heard in the 50s and 60s.”
Company officials did not immediately respond to an email Sunday requesting comment.
Bradley said he’s angry, noting it took the company a week to get in touch with the city about what happened.
“I thought over these years we had come so much further,” he said in his Day of Mourning speech, noting community members understand the petrochemical industry is complicated and things can go wrong.
“Just tell the community and we’ll work with you,” he said.
He noted a recent letter from civil society, Indigenous and other groups calling on the federal government to ensure the plant in Sarnia is closed until Aamjiwnaang is satisfied “INEOS Styrolution is able and willing to meet health-based air quality standards and the community’s demands. ”
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The issue “will not be going away,” Bradley said, adding city officials have urged the company “to stand up and … be accountable on this.”
The city offered opportunities to meet as a group with Aamjiwnaang and others during their meeting with INEOS Friday, fire chief Jeff Weber said.
“They took that back as information,” he said.
“We don’t know if they’re going to take us up on that offer.”
Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain did not immediately respond Sunday to an email requesting comment.
Meanwhile, Sarnia city council considers May 6 whether to OK funding for a plan to create a plaza at a memorial in Centennial Park, where Day of Mourning events were traditionally held, until park remediation work about 10 years ago moved the event to the fire hall.
Victims of Chemical Valley group spokesperson Sandra Kinart said she’s hopeful, noting her late husband Blayne’s service was at the memorial 20 years ago, after he died July 6 of mesothelioma after asbestos exposure in the workplace.
The memorial can’t go back to exactly what it was, she said.
“But I look to the future of what it will be.”
with files from Paul Morden
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