Calling the treatment of Sarnia’s Aamjiwnaang community ” truly shameful,” Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner says Environment Ministry inaction is threatening the health of the First Nation.

Gord Miller addresses the Chemical Valley’s impact on Aamjiwnaang in his annual report.

He says the province is not doing enough to advise residents of Chemical Valley releases, or communicate openly and promptly about its findings, a situation Miller says would be intolerable for any other community.

Miller says the Ministry has failed to follow up on a pledge five years ago to look at cumulative effects of air pollution in this area, noting that a study last year found mothers and children at Aamjiwnaang are exposed to a number of pollutants including mercury and PCB’s, and that Sarnia suffers some of the worst air pollution in Canada.