N.W.T. gov't says it followed protocol by doing 2nd round of lead tests instead of notifying schools earlier

CBC News

· Posted: May 31, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 hours ago

The N.W.T authorities says it followed modular practice when it conducted follow-up investigating for pb successful the drinking h2o astatine 2 Yellowknife schools alternatively of blocking the taps disconnected and notifying the nationalist earlier.

"Health experts raised immoderate questions astir the illustration gathering methods and whether that could person affected the results," Christina Carrigan, senior communications adviser with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, wrote successful an email Friday afternoon. 

In that email, the section said aft the initial sample acceptable was done, immoderate effect that exceeded the maximum acceptable attraction of pb nether Canadian drinking h2o guidelines triggered a 2nd illustration to corroborate the finding. 

The section besides said the bureau of the main nationalist wellness serviceman recommended the h2o not beryllium consumed arsenic a precautionary measure. 

"[Education, Culture and Employment] is present conducting a formal, school-wide bid of tests successful these 2 schools to validate the preliminary findings and guarantee the information of the drinking water."

Lead levels successful École William McDonald's drinking h2o were detected astatine 0.00903 milligrams per litre, portion Range Lake North School's levels were 0.025 milligrams per litre. Canada's drinking h2o guidelines authorities the maximum acceptable level is 0.005 milligrams per litre. 

Lead was archetypal detected connected Jan. 22, and the results were confirmed connected April 4. Parents and unit were informed this past Tuesday. 

'No harmless level' of lead 

Dr. Anne Hicks, an associate prof of pediatric respiratory medicine at the University of Alberta, said pb successful h2o and nutrient is absorbed successful the assemblage the aforesaid mode calcium and robust are.

"So into your reddish cells, into your bones," she said. 

Hicks said it's hard to accidental however overmuch pb is harmless to consume, due to the fact that everyone absorbs and expels it differently. 

"There's nary harmless level of pb intake, basically," she said. "The much you instrumentality into your assemblage implicit time, the much apt it is that you'll person an elevated pb level."

She said symptoms of precocious pb successful the assemblage volition often look later, but astir pb vulnerability is mild successful Canada. One sign could beryllium debased humor iron, anemia oregon debased reddish compartment counts.

"It tin instrumentality a agelong clip for these subtle symptoms to amusement up."

Hicks said the levels recovered astatine some schools "are concerning" but that nationalist wellness officials would champion beryllium capable to place the level of risk. 

"I deliberation the astir important happening would beryllium to marque definite that everybody is safe," she said. 

The N.W.T.'s wellness section told CBC it would not beryllium doing interviews, and the main nationalist wellness serviceman was besides not made disposable for an interview. Education, Culture and Employment has besides declined interviews, opting to nonstop email responses instead, and Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland has not been made disposable for interviews.

Parents concerned 

Sabrina Meilleur, who has children and stepchildren at Range Lake North School, said she thought the school's infrastructure was caller and she was amazed to find retired determination could beryllium elevated levels of pb successful the water.

"I was shocked, actually," she said.

She said she has bid of caput that an probe is taking place, present that they're investigating for it, but she would person liked to person known earlier. 

"I'm truly disappointed it took truthful long."

Yvette Cooper, different parent, said she worries astir the semipermanent effects of pb connected children. 

"It's wildly inappropriate," she said. "Children person been exposed to this for months.

"This is simply a truly dilatory effect and this is simply a immense concern," she added. "My assurance is shaken."