Green Party calls for action on Aboriginal diabetes epidemic

OTTAWA - Research is showing that persistent exposure to pollutants from contaminated sites containing dioxins, PCBs and other persistent organic pollutants is contributing to widespread Type II diabetes amongst Aboriginal people. Health Canada predicts that by 2012, 27% of all First Nations people in Canada will have Type II diabetes.

“This epidemic needs immediate attention. It is accelerating to levels that are mind boggling,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

Last year, $90.6 million from the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan went to support work in the Contaminated Sites Program at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). INAC’s Contaminated Sites Program spent $80.4 million on the sites in its inventory during the 005-2006 reporting period.

“Clearly we know which First Nations are located near contaminated sites. We need to focus attention on cleaning up these communities before the rate of diabetes climbs any higher,” said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs critic for the Green Party. “Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, strokes, heart disease and amputations. It is critical that we invest more time and resources to deal with this health crisis. These are the most vulnerable people in Canada and government must address its legal responsibility to protect their health.”

As the custodian of most federal lands in the North, INAC has responsibility, through the Northern Contaminated Sites Program (CSP), to manage a number of contaminated properties that are no longer maintained by the original occupant.