Education minister Caitlin Cleveland says she’s launching an immediate independent investigation into the circumstances around tests that found elevated lead in the water at two Yellowknife schools.
In a statement released at 9pm on Wednesday, Cleveland said she was “deeply concerned by the recent test results indicating elevated lead levels in the drinking water at École William McDonald Middle School and Range Lake North School.”
Cleveland said she had only learned of the test results on Monday evening. The GNWT earlier told Cabin Radio it had been in possession of test results indicating an issue since January.
Follow-up test results were received in early April, once again showing elevated lead levels in one sampled location at each of the two schools. Only on May 26 were parents – and the minister – told.
“It’s clear that there’s room to improve how information is shared and work is coordinated in situations like this. I’ve directed a third-party review to begin immediately to understand how this happened and ensure full accountability,” the minister stated on Wednesday evening.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
“I’m committed to transparency and will report publicly on what we learn and the steps we’ll take in response.
“While I won’t pre-judge the outcome of that review, I want to be clear: this situation is unacceptable. Parents deserve peace of mind, and students and staff deserve safe learning environments. I will do everything necessary to help restore that trust.”
Cleveland said a further round of tests is under way at both schools, involving “system-wide” tests of all drinking-water outlets rather than one or a few sampled sites.
“We expect an update within the next week,” she stated.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The initial samples taken at the schools were part of a pilot program to test school drinking water across the territory – a coordinated program that the territory says has not previously taken place.
Cleveland first announced a third-party investigation into the tests, their results and the communication of those results during a sitting of the legislature on Wednesday afternoon.
Answering questions from Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart, she said the GNWT needed to “understand the details of how we got here and how we can ensure we are moving forward in a fulsome way.”
Schools in Yellowknife, unlike most of the territory’s schools, “for the most part are owned by the education body themselves, but we have mechanisms to work together,” the minister told Testart.
“First and foremost, we need to ensure the water in our schools is safe and that kids in our schools are safe.”
There is no broader concern regarding water in Yellowknife. The city routinely tests its water and has reported no recent issues.
Pipes and water distribution systems within the schools would be possible sources of lead exposure, though the GNWT has said more investigative work is needed.
