MLA looks to make radon testing more accessible to residents

Could coordination at the municipal level make radon mitigation more accessible in the NWT?

That is a question raised in the territory’s legislature on Wednesday by Great Slave MLA Kate Reid.

Radon is a radioactive gas created when uranium in soil naturally breaks down. It isn’t considered harmful outdoors, where the gas can more easily dissipate but it can build up in homes – especially during winter months, when windows are more likely to be kept closed.

The Canadian Lung Association describes radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

In the legislature, Reid tabled a jurisdictional scan of public radon testing and mitigation supports across the country and described her own experience.

“In 2023, I purchased my own battery-powered radon monitor as my home has a crawlspace. After a year’s worth of testing, I found that although my house is not experiencing extreme readings, it is still high enough to consider mitigation,” she said, describing much of the NWT as being within a “high radon hazard zone.”

“The process to mitigate radon is not complicated, but professionals who can install these systems are not extensively available throughout the territory,” Reid added.

“I’m not asking the GNWT to find cash to set up private homes and businesses with mitigation solutions. I’m asking if the minister of Maca has any interest in creating a coordination function at his department so that residents could mass-book specialists from other jurisdictions to realize cost savings of booking en masse.”

The concept of coordinated bookings for services lacking capacity in the NWT has also been used for things like home energy audits. (At least one company in the territory does carry out radon testing. Home Safe Inspection Services said it is “working on” mitigation certification in an email after this article was first published.)

Housing NWT is working with contractors to address radon concerns within its housing units, Reid said. She asked if the agency could be consulted to discuss options for securing contractors.

Additionally, Reid asked if coordination with the NWT Association of Communities or Local Government Administrators of the NWT might be possible.

In response, Maca minister Vince McKay stated his department doesn’t oversee environmental health issues and doesn’t have the staff or funding to do so.

“However, I will say though, just because of the concern that we have, I’m interested in collaborating with the member to try to get resources available for residents,” said McKay.

“Any discussion on radon would focus on sharing information, helping direct communities to possible external resources rather than taking on new Maca-led initiatives.”