Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing calls for an apology from First Nations chiefs after he said he could "outlast" a protester from Grassy Narrows First Nation. The comment was made during a news conference on Monday in Toronto, where Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced new housing funding.
Chrissy Isaacs, a Grassy Narrows woman suffering from mercury poisoning, was present to demand compensation for mercury contamination, a crisis stemming from the Dryden Paper Mill's dumping of mercury into the community's river system in the 1960s and 70s. As Isaacs and other protesters chanted, Carney responded, "I can outlast her," while laughing, with Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow joining in.
Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Sherry Ackabee condemned Carney's remark, stating, "Shame on you, prime minister. You're making a joke of my people". Chief Roland Fisher of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations also called for an apology and requested a meeting with Carney to address the community's concerns. The Prime Minister's Office has not yet issued a formal response, but Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty is reportedly in contact with Grassy Narrows leadership.
This incident evokes memories of a similar situation in 2019 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked a Grassy Narrows protester for her "donation" after she disrupted a Liberal fundraiser. Trudeau later apologized for his remark. The ongoing mercury contamination continues to impact the Grassy Narrows community, and the demand for accountability and justice remains strong.
