Yukon NDP calls for safe drinking water in schools immediately

WHITEHORSE, YT — The Yukon NDP is calling on the territorial Liberals to immediately provide
safe drinking water to all Yukon schools pending effective remediation of lead contamination.

Many parents have been told to send their kids to school with drinking water from home, while
many teachers have been told to spend five minutes flushing lead-contaminated water out of
school faucets and water fountains before kids arrive.

“Students and staff need safe drinking water at school. If that means bringing in water until it’s
safe to drink from the taps, then that’s what the Liberals have to do,” NDP Leader Kate White
said on Monday, May 13.

The Yukon Government completed work to remediate lead contamination in Yukon schools in
2018.

But reports received by the Department of Education starting in early 2019 show that lead
levels at many schools still exceeded 2018 standards. Lead levels at all schools that were re-tested were well above new and tougher national drinking water guidelines that came out later
in 2019.

In some cases, post-remediation reports showed lead levels that were 10 to 100 times higher.

There was no follow-up remediation after those reports came in, nor after Health Canada
toughened up lead contamination guidelines.

“The Yukon Government has failed when it comes to providing safe drinking water in schools,”
MLA Lane Tredger, NDP Critic for Highways and Public Works, said.

“They knew back in 2019 that their remediation project wasn’t enough. In some schools, they
didn’t even bother to re-test the drinking water. And, the Yukon Government still did nothing
after Canada brought in stricter drinking water guidelines. The Liberals have let down students,
parents and staff who trusted them to have safe drinking water in schools.”

“It’s appalling that the Liberals have allowed lead-contaminated water in Yukon schools for five
years,” White added.

“They need to supply safe drinking water for students and staff at all Yukon schools until it’s safe
to drink out of the taps. Then they can tell Yukoners why they’ve let that contamination slide
since 2019.”

Lead exposure is well-known to affect cognitive development — especially in children. No
amount of lead can be considered safe in drinking water, according to Health Canada.

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For more information please contact:
Laurie Tritschler
Communications Lead, Yukon NDP
867-687-0284
laurie.tritschler@yla.gov.yk.ca