Continue research on food contamination, feds urged

ANNETTE BOURGEOIS

The chair of the Canadian Polar Commission wants Ottawa to follow through on a promise to continue research on toxins in traditional Arctic food.

Whit Fraser said the Canadian Arctic Contaminants Assessment Report makes the case that more research needs to be done. He also wants Ottawa to commit to a long-term monitoring program.

“If anyone was waiting for more reason why there needs be a long-term national program along the lines the commission has been talking about for the last six months, they need only to look at this report,” said Fraser from Sweden, where he’s attending a conference.

Ottawa has committed $6 million this year to research the effects of pollutants in the Arctic.

But the Chrétien government promised four years ago to spend $10 million, Fraser said, adding that future research should focus on the effects pollutants have on northerners who eat country foods.

Fraser also wants to see a program to monitor northern foods, such as seal and muktuk.

“That could be implemented with a reasonable amount of effort and without exorbitant costs.

“You don’t need to check every seal that’s shot, but there are random checks.”