Special rapporteur Baskut Tuncak urges Canada to engage with groups who live near toxic sites and respect basic human rightsCanada’s handling of toxic chemicals and industrial waste shows a “blatant disregard for Indigenous rights”, a UN human rights expert has said following an extensive fact-finding mission in the country. Baskut Tuncak, the special rapporteur on toxic chemicals, called on Canada to improve its monitoring of hazardous materials in the country – and to better engage with the Indigenous people who live near harmful pollution. Numerous communities were unable access to clean drinking water, while others had elevated levels of toxins in the water and soil. “The government has taken steps to acknowledge the so-called ‘sins of the past’ and to increase engagement with Indigenous peoples,” said Tuncak. He also took aim at Canadian companies operating abroad, a number of which have been accused of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.

Source: The Guardian June 07, 2019 09:00 UTC