June 2, 2025
MPP Gélinas: 13 long years and arsenic is still leaching into Long Lake
QUEEN’S PARK – France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt, rose in the legislature this morning to remind the Ford government of the legacy of unregulated resource extraction.
“Today I want to share with this house what happens when mining is done while ignoring environmental protections. Nickel Belt is full of nickel, copper, and all critical minerals needed now more than ever. But in Sudbury we have learned, I would say the hard way, that mining needs to respect the environment, the workers and First Nations.
In about 2009 residents of Long Lake started noticing dead fish, plants and animals in an area of Long Lake. Arsenic, a byproduct of gold production at the Long Lake Gold mine had started to leach into Long Lake; a long shallow lake a few minutes from downtown Sudbury. In 2012, Sudbury Public Health issued a drinking water advisory because the level of arsenic was so high. That affected 1000 residents, who take their water from the lake, go boating, fishing, swimming etc.
After many of us, including the Residents’ associations, petitioned the government for a clean up, the government took it seriously. They made it their number one priority, for abandoned mine clean up. That was 13 years ago speaker, for the last 13 years Long Lake Gold Mine has been leaching arsenic into Long Lake, but nothing has been done to the grounds, no remediation work has started. But we are told we are the number one priority! This is unacceptable.
As this government promises to speed up development by letting mining companies skirt around the rules in what they call, special economic zones, I wonder if they understand the cost of clean up versus the cost of doing things right the first time. Do they even care speaker?”
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines’ most recent update: a temporary fence was installed around the former Long Lake Mines’ open pit, trees have been cleared along the planned road corridor and the Ministry is currently in the vendor selection for roadway improvements for an access route to the site of the clean up.
