2024–2025 Panel Annual Report on English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Trust
Get information on the panel’s activities related to the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Trust for the 2024–2025 reporting period.
As required by the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Funding Act, 2017 (the Act), the following is the annual report submitted by the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel (EWRRP) Chair to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on behalf of the EWRRP. The report includes: a message from the Chair, background information on the Act and the Panel, and a description of the work of the Panel, including a status report on the Trust.
Message from the Panel Chair
I am pleased to present the 2024–2025 Annual Report of the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel, which documents the Panel’s activities from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The report fulfills the requirements of the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Funding Act, 2017 (the Act) to report annually to the Minister and leadership of each participating Indigenous government.
Each represented government shares a commitment to advance remediation of mercury in the English and Wabigoon Rivers in a safe and timely manner. The Panel is currently making positive strides towards remediation.
Projects funded by the Panel this year continued to build our understanding of mercury levels and transport in the English and Wabigoon Rivers system. A significant achievement was the formation of a team of independent mercury experts to carry out the conceptual site model project. The team is using data from previous Panel-funded, and other, studies to create a model that describes how mercury moves through the English and Wabigoon Rivers systems. The findings of the conceptual site model team will help to identify remaining data gaps and inform remediation options.
The Panel also continued to approve funding for Member and Participant First Nations to participate in the Panel, share traditional knowledge, and engage their communities to increase our collective understanding about remediation and provide opportunities for training and employment. In May 2024, Member and Participant First Nations were invited to come together for a first ever Elders’ meeting, hosted by Eagle Lake First Nation. Also in May, Grassy Narrows First Nation hosted a Panel meeting in their community, with a boat tour of the English River up to Ball Lake. This year Wabauskang First Nation did not submit a capacity funding proposal as they took a step back from Panel work to pursue other priorities; however, they continue to be recognized as a participant community under the Act.
As we continue with the challenging work of consolidating the extensive data collected to date, I thank the Panel Members, Participants and technical advisors for their continued perseverance and commitment to our common goal.
Sincerely,
Julie Schroeder
Panel Chair
Background
English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Funding Act, 2017
The English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Funding Act, 2017 (“the Act”) came into effect December 14, 2017.
The purpose of the Act is to provide for:
- The funding of the remediation of contaminants in the English and Wabigoon Rivers
- The co-operative management of that funding by Ontario, and the two First Nations (Grassy Narrows First Nation and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations) that have been most directly and significantly affected by historic mercury contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers
- An opportunity for other Indigenous communities that have a historic relationship with the English and Wabigoon Rivers to be involved in discussions in respect of that funding
The Act established the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Trust (“Trust”) with $85 million in dedicated funding to support the purposes of the Act. The Act also established the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel (“Panel”), a decision-making structure that includes Members representing Grassy Narrows First Nation, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, and Ontario. As Indigenous communities who have a historic relationship with the Rivers and who have expressed interest in this project, Eagle Lake First Nation and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation also actively participate in supporting the work of the Panel. Wabauskang First Nation continues to be recognized as a participant community under the Act although they did not actively participate in Panel activities in 2024/2025.
The Panel is responsible for providing advice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on a series of items, including: the terms and conditions of the Trust, the Panel’s Practices and Procedures, criteria for making payments from the Trust, and remediation objectives and goals, among others. The Panel is also responsible for directing the expenditure of the Trust funds towards the remediation of mercury in the English and Wabigoon Rivers.
BMO Trust Company was appointed by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as the Trustee. BMO Global Asset Management was retained by the Trustee to manage the Trust assets.
The Panel Annual Report
Section 11(1) of the Act includes the requirement for the Panel to prepare an annual report by June 1 of each year. This requires the Panel to report in respect of:
- The activities funded by the Trust for the annual period ending on March 31 in the year in which the Report is due
- The balance of funds remaining in the Trust as of March 31 in the year in which the Report is due
- A forecast of the expenditures from the Trust for the five-year period beginning April 1 in the year in which the Report is due
- A recommendation of whether additional funds will be required to fund the Trust and in what amount
- A description of how the activities funded by the Trust have contributed to the remediation of the English and Wabigoon Rivers
The Chair of the Panel is required to submit the Panel’s Annual Report to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (Minister) by June 1, and to the leadership of the Indigenous communities that participated in the work of the Panel.
The Trustee is also required to submit an annual report by June 1 of each year reporting on the financial affairs of the Trust and disbursement of trust assets. The Trustee is to provide this report to the Minister, the leadership of each Indigenous community that participated in the work of the Panel, and the Chair of the Panel. The Minister is required to table the Panel and Trustee reports in the Legislature and make the reports available to the public on the government of Ontario website.
The English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel
Panel Members are appointed by their represented governments. The Panel Chair and Vice-Chair are selected by the Members from amongst themselves.
Panel Participants are nominated by the leadership of their Indigenous community and authorized by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
The operation of the Panel is governed by the Act, the Panel’s Practices and Procedures, and the criteria for making payments from the Trust.
Panel Members
Grassy Narrows First Nation
- Chief Rudy Turtle (until November 6, 2024)
- Councillor Aaron Kokopenace (from November 6, 2024)
- David Sone
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations
- Chief Waylon Scott
- Councillor Rocky Bunting — Panel Vice-Chair
Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Dave Manol, Director, Drinking Water and Environmental Compliance Division, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Julie Schroeder, Director, Environmental Sciences and Standards Division, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Panel Chair
Panel Participants
Eagle Lake First Nation
- Daniel Morriseau, Lands and Resources Consultation Manager
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
- Robert Parenteau, Lands and Resources Director
Wabauskang First Nation
- (Not actively participating in 2024/2025)
The Responsible Party Working Group
In this context, “responsible party” refers to a person or entity who could be entrusted to coordinate the remaining assessment and remediation of the English and Wabigoon Rivers. The Responsible Party Working Group was established in September 2018 to:
- Support represented governments in understanding the role of the entity in the development and execution of the remediation plan
- Provide input to the Panel on advice to the Minister on the form that the entity could take including their governments’ potential role with respect to the responsible party in the development and execution a remediation plan for the English and Wabigoon Rivers
Responsible Party Working Group Representatives
Grassy Narrows First Nation
- David Sone, Panel Member
- Stefano Marconetto, Technical Advisor
- Adrienne Telford, Advisor
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations
- George Land, Elder
- Marvin McDonald, Panel Coordinator
- Ariel Lupu, Advisor
- Regina Scott, Youth Coordinator
- Nick Hobbs, Advisor
Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Dave Manol, Panel Member
- Neil Gervais, Advisor (until January 6, 2025)
- Laura Dominelli (from January 6, 2025 until March 17, 2025)
Eagle Lake First Nation
- Alison Fraser, Advisor
- Daniel Morriseau, Lands and Resources Consultation Manager
- Kate Kempton, Advisor
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
- Annie Dietrich, Advisor
The Technical Subcommittee
The Technical Subcommittee was established in February 2018. It meets on an as needed basis as determined by the Panel. The purpose of the Technical Subcommittee is to:
- Support the Panel in making informed decisions about proposals for the funding of remediation activities
- Strive for a common understanding on research, science and data interpretation and provide a venue for information sharing
- Support the Panel by providing advice on remediation objectives and goals
The Technical Subcommittee is comprised of traditional knowledge holders from each First Nation and technical advisors from each represented government.
Technical Subcommittee Representatives
Grassy Narrows First Nation
- William Fobister Sr., Traditional Knowledge Holder
- Andrew Madison, Technical Advisor
- Reed Harris, Technical Advisor
- Louis Assin, Traditional Knowledge Holder
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations
- George Land, Elder
- Marvin McDonald, Panel Coordinator
- Regina Scott, Youth Coordinator
- Ariel Lupu, Technical Advisor
- Michelle Mico, Technical Advisor
Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Saloni Clerk, Technical Advisor
- Paula Spencer, Technical Advisor
- Paul Welsh, Technical Advisor (observer)
Eagle Lake First Nation
- Bob Kavanaugh, Traditional Knowledge Holder
- Alison Fraser, Technical Advisor — Technical Subcommittee Liaison
- Miles Pitchenese, Technical Advisor
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
- Annie Dietrich, Technical Advisor
- Dan Leitch, Technical Advisor
The Panel Secretariat
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks provides in kind Secretariat support to the Panel, Technical Subcommittee and the Responsible Party Working Group. As directed by the Panel, the Secretariat is responsible for coordinating meetings, preparing Panel documents, drafting operational policy, maintaining records and reviewing funding proposals, among other tasks.
Achievements
Panel
During this reporting period, the Panel held four teleconferences and two in-person meetings. Building on past years’ work, the Panel continued to fund projects aimed at characterizing mercury in the English and Wabigoon Rivers and also work to consolidate the information collected to date. During the 2024–2025 reporting year, Panel accomplishments included, but were not limited to funding the:
- Formation of the team of independent mercury experts to use the data collected to date by Panel Members and Participants to develop a conceptual site model. The conceptual site model, once developed, will show how mercury transport, cycling and bioaccumulation occur in the English and Wabigoon Rivers.
- Continued field work including studies of mercury methylation, erosion, and baseline (pre-remediation) conditions.
- Continued sharing of data from Panel funded studies through a common database and working together to address database challenges to ensure data is accurate and accessible.
- Prioritized work towards completing the characterization stage and continued discussions on the development of preliminary remediation objectives and goals advice to the Minister.
- First ever Elders’ meeting which brought them together to share perspectives and lived experiences.
- Continued capacity building in Panel Member and Participant First Nations to support their involvement in the work of the Panel and Technical Subcommittee and engage their communities and youth.
The Panel has heard and understands concerns that remediation has yet to begin and there remains no remediation plan or timeline. Given the injustice and suffering of the people and the environment caused by the contamination of the English and Wabigoon Rivers from the mill, the Panel is committed to advancing remediation of the Rivers as quickly and safely as possible.
Responsible Party Working Group
The Responsible Party Working Group held one teleconference and one in-person meeting during this reporting period. The discussions focused on evaluating options for an entity to coordinate the remaining assessment and remediation of the English and Wabigoon Rivers.
- The Working Group continued to discuss options for establishing a responsible party based on consensus that it take the form of an entity to coordinate remediation of the Rivers, including regulatory approval processes. The Working Group considered examples of responsible parties in various jurisdictions to inform its discussion including authorities, responsibilities, and liabilities of a responsible party. The Working Group will continue discussions throughout 2025-2026 with the goal of providing consensus recommendations to the Panel on the establishment of a responsible party. The Panel may submit recommendations to the Minister.
Technical Subcommittee
The Technical Subcommittee reviewed and discussed pre-remediation proposals as directed by the Panel. It also reviewed and interpreted scientific and technical information, worked to develop consistent methodologies for field work, engaged with the conceptual site model project team to support their work, and assessed data gaps and priorities for studies to be undertaken. The group shared Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and scientific information, and discussed study results. Updates to the Panel on the Technical Subcommittee discussions were provided by the Panel Liaison at Panel meetings.
In the 2024–2025 reporting year, the Technical Subcommittee’s key accomplishments included:
Update of priorities for work to understand and address data gaps:
- Evaluation of priorities to inform remediation
- Peer review of numerous technical reports led by Member and Participant First Nations
- Technical knowledge sharing through discussions and presentations to better understand system-wide issues related to remediation
- Traditional knowledge sharing from Elders
- Technical review of, and input to, pre-remediation proposals, including discussions towards developing a system wide long-term monitoring plan proposal
- Collaborative field program adjustments through Technical Subcommittee discussion
- Discussion to help ensure methodologies and collected data were aligned across studies being undertaken
During this reporting period, the Technical Subcommittee held three teleconferences and two in-person meetings.
Trust Update
Activities funded by the Trust between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025
1. Pre-Remediation Activities
At this stage of the project, funds are being directed to pre-remediation activities, which are intended to characterize mercury contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers system. Where possible, these projects provided opportunities for participation, knowledge transfer, training, and employment for First Nation community members. Traditional knowledge holders are actively engaged and play a critical role in the Panel process by informing pre-remediation activities and supporting training and community engagement programs by sharing past accounts and experiences.
Many of the activities described below span more than one reporting period and may have disbursements from previous years. Generally, for pre-remediation activities approved by the Panel, funds are disbursed in multiple installments following the approval of required project milestones and reporting. The final disbursement of funds is released after the project’s completion following receipt of any deliverables and approval of a final report and reconciled budget.
Activities included in the following section were either started, completed or ongoing during the 2024–2025 reporting period. For activities that have received funding in prior years, the total amount disbursed to date has also been included.
A summary table of all pre-remediation funds disbursed during the 2024–2025 reporting period. A summary table of cumulative disbursements for all pre-remediation activities funded to March 31, 2025. These financial summaries were developed by the Panel to provide information regarding the activities funded by the Trust for this reporting period. Audited financial statements for the Trust can be found in the Annual Report of the Trustee for the corresponding reporting period.
Panel Members
Grassy Narrows First Nation — Dated Core Analyses Project
The purpose of this project is to contribute to the evaluation as to whether there are ongoing sources of mercury, how much mercury is stored in different parts of the Wabigoon River system, the role of riparian wetlands in mercury storage and recovery, and how long it will take the Wabigoon River to recover naturally after any ongoing mercury sources have been controlled. This was accomplished by analyzing sediment cores collected from the Wabigoon River between Dryden and Clay Lake.
Approved: May 2019
Total approved budget: $1,206,338.83
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $1,124,038.16
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation — 2019–21 Sediment, Water and Biota Sampling Program
The purpose of this project is to contribute to the evaluation of where mercury is located, how it moves through the River system, where it is being deposited and how it gets into fish and edible plants. The project is focused on areas of known elevated mercury, and areas which are currently under-characterized. This work includes sediment, water and biota sampling.
Approved: August 2019 (initial scoped proposal)/ September 2020 (revised proposal)
Total approved budget: $5,230,237.79
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $4,358,214.45
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation — Mercury Modelling for the English-Wabigoon River System
The purpose of this project is to develop and apply a numerical model framework to better understand mercury in the existing system and help design and predict the response of the English and Wabigoon Rivers to potential remediation actions to reduce mercury contamination in the Rivers. The project will provide the Panel with scientifically sound and defensible information to support the identification of data gaps and needs, evaluate proposed remediation options, employ adaptive management in implementation of remediation plans, and design pre and post remediation monitoring programs. The project was revised in 2024 to include bathymetry gap data collection.
Approved: November 2020
Total approved budget: $1,534,237.12 (total revised budget)
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $1,174,739.67
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation — Mercury Methylation Dynamics
The purpose of this project is to help characterize the impacts of elevated sulfate from Dryden Mill effluent on mercury methylation in the English Wabigoon Rivers system, and evaluate porewater concentrations of mercury, methylmercury and relevant parameters affecting methylmercury production in the Wabigoon River sediments.
Approved: April 2023
Total approved budget: $1,502,698.99
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $901,619.40
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation — Conceptual Site Model Project
The purpose of the work is to contribute to the continued development of a remediation plan for mercury contamination in the English Wabigoon Rivers system. Understanding the transport, fate, transformation and bioaccumulation of mercury throughout the Rivers system, and integrating existing and diverse knowledge forms into one rigorous model is an important part of characterizing the current problem, as well as assessing the potential suitable remediation options for the English and Wabigoon Rivers system.
Approved: November 2023
Total approved budget:: $1,241,647.09
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $744,988.25
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025:: $981,443.20
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2022–23 Monitoring Program
This project is a continuation of previous work undertaken by Wabaseemoong within the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations traditional land use area. The 2022–2023 project involves collecting key mercury data to further the understanding of the ecosystem, and to obtain measurements to determine changes to mercury and methylmercury in the system.
Approved: April 2022
Total approved budget: $787,288.42
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $708,559.58
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2023 Monitoring Program
This project is a continuation of previous work undertaken by Wabaseemoong within the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations traditional land use area. The 2023 project involves to collecting information related to mercury and how it changes and moves through the environment over time.
Approved: May 2023
Total approved budget: $570,815.92
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $37,441.25
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $465,533.18
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2024 Monitoring Program
This project is a continuation of previous work undertaken by Wabaseemoong within the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations traditional land use area. The 2024 project involves collecting information related to mercury and how it changes and moves through the environment over time.
Approved: July 2024
Total approved budget: $470,173.33
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $352,630.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $352,630.00
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Panel Participants
Eagle Lake First Nation — 2021 Water Level Program and Clay Lake Surface Water Sampling
The purpose of this project is to monitor water levels and flows in the Wabigoon River system to support the numerical model being developed by Grassy Narrows First Nation, and sample surface water in Clay Lake to capture the extent of methylation near the lake bottom and the significance of lake turnover events in the transport of mercury in the system.
Approved: April 2021
Total approved budget: $349,461.49
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $251,811.57
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Eagle Lake First Nation — 2022 Sampling Program
The purpose of this project is to conduct a baseline assessment of mercury in Wildrice Lake, assess mercury concentrations in biota of five wetlands along the Wabigoon River, and to assess water level, flow and chemistry in four tributaries of the Wabigoon River.
Approved: April 2022
Total approved budget: $495,538.34
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2024: $394,153.90
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabauskang First Nation — Long-Term Database Management 2024
The purpose of this project was to provide the professional and technical support required to oversee contract for management and maintenance of the scientific database between January 1, 2024, and March 31, 2024. The responsibility for this project was transferred to Eagle Lake First Nation on January 1, 2024 from Wabauskang First Nation.
Approved: January 2024
Total approved budget: $215,920.25
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $20,425.50
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $20,425.50
Status: Completed
Eagle Lake First Nation — Database Management 2024–2025
The purpose of this project is to provide the professional and technical support required to oversee a contract for management and maintenance of the scientific database between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.
Approved: February 2024
Total approved budget: $127,457.31
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $30,260.27
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $80,694.05
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabauskang First Nation — Wabigoon River and English River Bathymetry and LiDAR Mapping Project
The purpose of this project is to provide detailed mapping of the rivers and surrounding lands to support the development of remedial options.
Approved: April 2020
Total approved budget: $730,907.73
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $72,690.36
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $726,903.60
Status: Complete
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation — Erosion Pilot Study
The purpose of this project was to understand erosion rates of riverbanks and riverbeds along the Wabigoon River, and to better understand how erosion contributes to total suspended solids by collecting instream turbidity data. The project also assessed the suitability of the pilot study for expansion in other areas of the Wabigoon River or in future years.
Approved: June 2022
Total approved budget: $389,139.30
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $38,913.93
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2024: $389,139.30
Status: Complete
2. Capacity Funding
The Panel provided funds to the Member and Participant First Nations to participate in the work of the Panel in an informed way. These funds were used for purposes including governance, community and youth engagement, advisory and support services, remuneration of Members and Participants who were otherwise not already remunerated for their participation on the Panel, and travel expenses to attend meetings.
Capacity funding is based on a calendar year. Funds are typically released in three installments following the approval of required documentation: at the beginning of the year following approval of the proposed budget, mid-year following approval of an interim report, following approval of a final report and reconciled budget. Budgets included in the following section span more than one reporting period and were either started, completed or ongoing during the 2024–2025 reporting period. For budgets that have received funding in prior years, the total amount disbursed to date has also been included.
A summary table of all capacity funding disbursed during the 2024–2025 reporting period is provided on pages 22 and 23. A summary table of cumulative disbursements for all capacity funding disbursed to March 31, 2025, is provided on page 23. These financial summaries were developed by the Panel to provide information regarding the activities funded by the Trust for this reporting period. Audited financial statements for the Trust can be found in the Annual Report of the Trustee for the corresponding reporting period.
Panel Members
Grassy Narrows First Nation — 2023 Capacity Funding
Approved: November 2022
Total approved budget: $855,738.00
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $599,017.00
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation — 2024 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2023
Total approved budget: $863,107.00
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $0
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $604,175.00
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Grassy Narrows First Nation — 2025 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2024
Total approved budget: $938,758.00
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $657,130.00
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $657,130.00
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2023 Capacity Funding
Approved: November 2022
Total approved budget: $826,537.80
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $ 21,768.26
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $765,652.28
Status: Complete
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2024 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2023
Total approved budget: $850,275.25
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $170,055.05
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $765,247.73
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2025 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2024
Total approved budget: $900,869.20
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $630,608.44
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $630,608.44
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2023 Youth Camp
Approved: June 2023
Total approved budget: $77,647.05
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $ 18,707.90
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $76,943.19
Status: Complete
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations — 2024 Youth Camp
Approved: June 2024
Total approved budget: $73,704.83
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $55,278.62
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $55,278.62
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Panel Participants
Eagle Lake First Nation — 2023 Capacity Funding
Approved: November 2022
Total approved budget: $276,565.26
Funds returned in 2024/2025: $ 29,711.12
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $191,782.97
Status: Completed
Eagle Lake First Nation — 2024 Capacity Funding
Approved: October 2023
Total approved budget: $239,174.94
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $41,647.2
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $209,069.66
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Eagle Lake First Nation — 2025 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2024
Total approved budget: $256,830.01
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $179,781.01
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $179,781.01
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation — 2023 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2022
Total approved budget: $298,357.99
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $21,724.70
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $256,932.00
Status: Complete
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation — 2024 Capacity Funding
Approved: December 2023
Total approved budget: $293,516.82
Funds disbursed in 2024/2025: $25,185.67
Total funds disbursed to March 31, 2025: $201,295.76
Status: Ongoing with anticipated completion 2025/2026
3. Summary of 2024–2025 EWRRP Disbursements — April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025
| Members | Project name | Approved budget | Funds disbursed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2019 Dated Core Analyses | $1,206,338.83 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2019–2021 Sediment, Water and Biota Sampling | $5,230,237.79 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | Mercury Modelling for English-Wabigoon River System | $1,534,237.12 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | Mercury Methylation Dynamics | $1,502,698.99 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | Conceptual Site Model Project | $1,241,647.09 | $744,988.25 | Ongoing |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2022-23 Monitoring Program | $787,288.42 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2023 Monitoring Program | $570,815.92 | $37,441.25 | Ongoing |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2024 Monitoring Program | $470,173.33 | $352,630.00 | Ongoing |
| Members total funding | N/A | N/A | $1,135,059.50 | N/A |
| Participants | Project name | Approved budget | Funds disbursed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2021 Water Level Program and Clay Lake Surface Water Sampling | $349,461.49 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2022 Sampling Program | $495,538.34 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024 Database Management | $215,920.25 | $20,425.50 | Completed |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024-2025 Database Management | $127,457.31 | $30,260.27 | Ongoing |
| Wabauskang First Nation | Wabigoon River and English River Bathymetry and LiDAR Mapping | $730,907.73 | $72,690.36 | Completed |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | Erosion Pilot Study | $389,139.30 | $38,913.93 | Completed |
| Participants total funding | N/A | N/A | $162,290.06 | N/A |
| Members | Project name | Approved budget | Funds disbursed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2023 | $855,738.00 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2024 | $863,107.00 | $0.00 | Ongoing |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2025 | $938,758.00 | $657,130.00 | Ongoing |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2023 | $826,537.80 | $21,768.26 | Completed |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2024 | $850,275.25 | $170,055.05 | Ongoing |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2025 | $900,869.20 | $630,608.44 | Ongoing |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2023 — Youth Camp | $77,647.05 | $18,707.90 | Completed |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2024 — Youth Camp | $73,704.83 | $55,278.62 | Ongoing |
| Members total funding | N/A | N/A | $1,553,548.27 | N/A |
| Participants | Project name | Approved budget | Funds disbursed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2023 | $276,565.26 | $(29,711.12) | Completed |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024 | $239,174.94 | $41,647.20 | Ongoing |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024 | $239,174.94 | $167,422.46 | Ongoing |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2023 | $298,357.99 | $21,724.70 | Completed |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2024 | $293,516.82 | $25,185.67 | Ongoing |
| Participants total funding | N/A | N/A | $238,627.46 | N/A |
| Category | Funds disbursed |
|---|---|
| Audit/Consulting fees | $16,678.80 |
| Asset management fees | $92,714.94 |
| Total other administrative fees | $109,393.74 |
| Category | Funds disbursed |
|---|---|
| Trustee fees | $41,755.19 |
| HST | 5,428.17 |
| Total administrative expenses | $47,183.36 |
| Category | Funds disbursed |
|---|---|
| Total pre-remediation funding | 1,297,349.56 |
| Total capacity funding | $1,792,175.73 |
| Total other administrative fees | $109,393.74 |
| Total administrative expenses | $47,183.36 |
| Total funding | $3,246,102.39 |
4. Summary of EWRRP cumulative disbursements to March 31, 2025
| Members | Project Name | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2018 Field Sampling | $1,630,397.70 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ($6,575.01) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,623,822.69 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2019 Nearshore Riverbank Sediment and Porewater | $311,181.50 | $44,454.00 | $44,454.00 | $0.00 | ($85,682.17) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $314,407.33 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2019 Dated Core Analyses | $0.00 | $877,135.82 | $164,601.56 | $82,300.78 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,124,038.16 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2019–2021 Sediment, Water and Biota Sampling | $0.00 | $850,000.00 | $688,364.43 | $2,819,850.02 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4,358,214.45 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | Mercury Modelling for English-Wabigoon River System | $0.00 | $0.00 | $528,439.46 | $264,219.73 | $0.00 | $382,080.48 | $0.00 | $1,174,739.67 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | Mercury Methylation Dynamics | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $901,619.40 | $0.00 | $901,619.40 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | Conceptual Site Model Project | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $236,454.95 | $744,988.25 | $981,443.20 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2019 Field Program | $0.00 | $1,109,861.86 | $435,707.14 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,545,569.00 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2020 Field Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $824,722.88 | $0.00 | $44,047.95 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $868,770.83 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2021 Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Study | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,076,079.28 | $0.00 | $110,182.03 | $0.00 | $1,186,261.31 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2022-2023 Monitoring Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $708,559.58 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $708,559.58 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2023 Monitoring Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $428,111.93 | $37,441.25 | $465,553.18 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2024 Monitoring Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $352,630.00 | $352,630.00 |
| Members total funding | N/A | $1,941,579.20 | $2,881,451.68 | $2,686,289.47 | $4,242,449.81 | $660,350.35 | $2,058,448.79 | $1,135,059.50 | $15,605,628.80 |
| Members | Project Name | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake First Nation | Wetland Mercury Characterization | $243,186.83 | $230,890.84 | $69,151.80 | $(14,363.23) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $528,866.24 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2020 Surface Water Sampling Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $334,011.84 | $0.00 | $399.21 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $334,411.05 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2021 Water Level Program and Clay Lake Surface Water Sampling | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $251,811.57 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $251,811.57 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2022 Sampling Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $394,153.90 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $394,153.90 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024 Database Management | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $20,425.50 | $20,425.50 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024-2025 Database Management | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $50,433.78 | $30,260.27 | $80,694.05 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2018 GIS, Database Management and Research Capacity Building | $371,983.55 | $(84,499.39) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $287,484.16 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2019 GIS, Database Management and Research Capacity Building | $274,774.63 | $219,819.72 | $(121,593.32) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $373,001.03 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2019 Data Management Strategy Assessment | $0.00 | $18,077.09 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $18,077.09 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2019 Data Management Strategy Assessment — Addendum | $0.00 | $6,750.00 | $6,750.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $13,500 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | Project Management and Support for Database Development | $0.00 | $0.00 | $21,918.75 | $17,535.00 | $4,383.75 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $43,837.50 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | Scientific Database Development | $0.00 | $0.00 | $58,985.25 | $62,694.80 | $29,541.62 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $151,221.67 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | Long-Term Database Management | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $71,112.87 | $77,470.39 | $0.00 | $148,583.26 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | Wabigoon River and English River Bathymetry and LiDAR Mapping | $0.00 | $0.00 | $511,635.41 | $142,577.83 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $72,690.36 | $726,903.60 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2019 Wabigoon Lake Background Environmental and Water Regime Study | $0.00 | $163,688.92 | $18,183.68 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $181,872.60 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2020 Field Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $403,049.09 | $0.00 | $8,287.38 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $411,336.47 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | Reference Sites Sampling Program | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $73,189.60 | $3,715.25 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $76,904.85 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | Erosion Pilot Study | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $194,569.65 | $155,655.72 | $38,913.93 | $389,139.30 |
| Participants total funding | $889,945.01 | $554,727.18 | $1,302,092.50 | $533,445.57 | $706,163.63 | $283,559.89 | $162,290.06 | $4,432,223.84 |
| Members | Project Name | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2018 | $612,040.37 | $38,924.40 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $650,964.77 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2019 | $617,395.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $249,153.87 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $866,548.87 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2020 | $0.00 | $678,049.44 | $0.00 | $71,660.68 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $749,710.12 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $573,403.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | ($7,110.54) | $0.00 | $566,292.46 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $555,704.00 | $0.00 | $92,951.67 | $0.00 | $648,655.67 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $599,017.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $599,017.00 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $604,175.00 | $0.00 | $604,175.00 |
| Grassy Narrows First Nation | 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $657,130.00 | $657,130.00 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2018 | $504,185.90 | $53,764.86 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $557,950.76 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2018 Youth Summer Camp | $107,322.75 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $107,322.75 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2019 | $659,999.00 | $188,586.00 | $93,008.53 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $941,593.53 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2019 Youth Summer Camp | $0.00 | $116,011.98 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $116,011.98 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2020 | $0.00 | $683,526.30 | $64,692.44 | $47,883.44 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $796,102.18 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2020 Youth Summer Camp | $0.00 | $0.00 | $88,506.45 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $88,506.45 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $555,419.10 | $126,909.77 | ($18,797.33) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $663,531.54 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2021 Youth Summer Camp | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $84,475.70 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $84,475.70 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $540,432.97 | $129,997.56 | $64,107.40 | $0.00 | $734,537.93 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2022 Youth Summer Camp | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $53,179.97 | $17,342.32 | $0.00 | $70,522.29 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $578,576.46 | $165,307.56 | $21,768.26 | $765,652.28 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2023 Youth Summer Camp | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $58,235.29 | $18,707.90 | $76,943.19 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $595,192.68 | $170,055.05 | $765,247.73 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2024 Youth Summer Camp | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $55,278.62 | $55,278.62 |
| Wabaseemoong Independent Nations | 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $630,608.44 | $630,608.44 |
| Members total funding | $2,500,943.02 | $1,758,862.98 | $1,375,029.52 | $1,676,220.43 | $1,341,973.66 | $1,590,201.38 | $1,553,548.27 | $11,796,779.26 |
| Members | Project Name | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2018 | $265,835.17 | $20,766.77 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $286,601.94 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2019 | $417,962.28 | $119,417.79 | $(58,999.19) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $478,380.88 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2020 | $0.00 | $310,776.46 | $0.00 | $(71,140.88) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $239,635.58 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $208,253.79 | $14,118.50 | $28,010.12 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $250,382.41 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $196,519.73 | $12,194.48 | ($8,523.50) | $0.00 | $200,190.71 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $193,595.68 | $27,898.41 | $(29,711.12) | $191,782.97 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $167,422.46 | $41,647.20 | $209,069.66 |
| Eagle Lake First Nation | 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $179,781.01 | $179,781.01 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2018 | $223,939.95 | $18,633.58 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $242,573.53 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2018 Addendum | $13,800.00 | $3,450.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $17,250.00 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2019 | $266,888.30 | $76,253.80 | $24,307.80 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $367,449.90 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2020 | $0.00 | $198,803.10 | $0.00 | $(74,213.71) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $124,589.39 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $126,742.00 | $36,212.00 | ($29,692.30) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $133,261.70 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $124,076.44 | $20,919.15 | ($11,006.20) | $0.00 | $133,989.39 |
| Wabauskang First Nation | 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $120,238.76 | $8,359.61 | $0.00 | $128,598.37 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2019 | $0.00 | $338,307.51 | $(63,156.09) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $275,151.42 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2020 | $0.00 | $325,920.21 | $0.00 | $11,886.46 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $337,806.67 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $230,294.68 | $58,650.68 | ($5,333.02) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $283,612.34 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $221,304.83 | $30,723.06 | ($34,708.48) | $0.00 | $217,319.41 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $208,850.60 | $26,356.70 | $21,724.70 | $256,932.00 |
| Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation | 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $176,110.09 | $25,185.67 | $201,295.76 |
| Participants total funding | N/A | $1,188,425.70 | $1,412,329.22 | $467,442.99 | $517,414.05 | $579,506.53 | $351,909.09 | $238,627.46 | $4,755,655.04 |
| Category | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit/Consulting fees | $6,299.75 | $21,334.13 | $12,562.50 | $19,884.64 | $12,666.17 | $13,353.78 | $16,678.80 | $102,779.77 |
| Asset management fees | $96,162.29 | $137,996.65 | $144,712.12 | $135,682.41 | $128,487.40 | $124,608.37 | $92,714.94 | $860,364.18 |
| Total other administrative fees | $102,462.04 | $159,330.78 | $157,274.62 | $155,567.05 | $141,153.57 | $137,962.15 | $109,393.74 | $963,143.95 |
| Category | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee fees | $41,543.01 | $51,455.33 | $49,306.51 | $45,909.58 | $43,211.51 | $41,694.61 | $41,755.19 | $314,875.74 |
| HST | $5,302.65 | $6,689.20 | $6,409.84 | $5,968.25 | $5,617.50 | $5,420.30 | 5,428.17 | $40,835.91 |
| Total administrative expenses | $46,845.66 | $58,144.53 | $55,716.35 | $51,877.83 | $48,829.01 | $47,114.91 | $47,183.36 | $355,711.65 |
| Category | Funds disbursed 2018–2019 | Funds disbursed 2019–2020 | Funds disbursed 2020–2021 | Funds disbursed 2021–2022 | Funds disbursed 2022–2023 | Funds disbursed 2023–2024 | Funds disbursed 2024–2025 | Funds disbursed to March 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pre-remediation funding | $2,831,524.21 | $3,436,178.86 | $3,988,381.97 | $4,775,895.38 | $1,366,513.98 | $2,342,008.68 | $1,297,349.56 | $20,037,852.64 |
| Total capacity funding | $3,689,368.72 | $3,171,192.20 | $1,842,472.51 | $2,193,634.48 | $1,921,480.19 | $1,942,110.47 | $1,792,175.73 | $16,552,434.30 |
| Total other administrative fees | $102,462.04 | $159,330.78 | $157,274.62 | $155,567.05 | $141,153.57 | $137,962.15 | $109,393.74 | $963,143.95 |
| Total administrative expenses | $46,845.66 | $58,144.53 | $55,716.35 | $51,877.83 | $48,829.01 | $47,114.91 | $47,183.36 | $355,711.65 |
| Total funding | $6,670,200.63 | $6,824,846.37 | $6,043,845.45 | $7,176,974.74 | $3,477,976.75 | $4,469,196.21 | $3,246,102.39 | $37,909,142.54 |
Balance of funds remaining in the Trust as of March 31, 2025
The balance of funds in the Trust as of March 31, 2025, was $58,077,090.64 (compared to $57,506,453.25 on March 31, 2024). The Trust grew because investment income exceeded expenditures. During this reporting period, the Panel approved, but has not yet disbursed, funding for ongoing pre-remediation activities totalling $117,543.33 and for capacity funding totalling $647,363.97.
Forecast of the expenditures from the Trust for the five-year period beginning April 1, 2025
During this reporting period, the Panel continued funding pre-remediation projects aimed at characterizing mercury contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers system. Given remediation options have not yet been selected, it is not possible to provide an accurate forecast of expenditures from the Trust for the following five-year period at this time.
The Panel does, however, forecast that a range of $25-$40 million will be required in the next three years to continue the characterization of mercury in the Rivers system; to develop remediation objectives and goals, remediation options and responsible party advice to the Minister. This forecast also reflects the funds required for Panel operations. It is anticipated that significant additional funds will be required if remediation activities are commenced in the next three to five years. The Panel expects that it will be better able to forecast future expenditures once characterization efforts are complete and remediation planning is underway.
Recommendation of whether additional funds will be required to fund the Trust and in what amount
Based on the advice of remediation professionals and others, the Panel suggests that significant additional funds beyond the current Trust balance will be required to complete the remediation of the English and Wabigoon Rivers, including long term monitoring. Given the remediation options have not been selected, the Panel does not have a recommendation on the specific amount of additional funds that may be required at this time.
Description of how the activities funded by the Trust have contributed to the remediation of the English and Wabigoon Rivers
The activities funded by the Panel during this reporting period focused largely on continued assessment and characterization of mercury levels in water, sediment, fish and other biota, wetlands and plants in the Rivers system and also work to consolidate this information by funding a team of independent mercury experts to work on the conceptual site model project. Mercury contamination has impacted over 200 km of the English and Wabigoon Rivers system. A large amount of sampling has been required to locate mercury deposits, identify how mercury is moving in the system, understand how and where mercury is being changed to the more toxic methylmercury form, and understand how the mercury is getting into fish and plants. These efforts are filling in data gaps and enhancing the current understanding of why mercury remains elevated in the English and Wabigoon Rivers system. The resulting information will be required to develop remediation objectives and goals advice to the Minister, assess and select remediation options, and assist in the development and implementation of a remediation plan.
Member First Nations were engaged in sampling/assessment work during the year and reported on their work. In addition to sampling and assessment of sediment, water and biota, other work was undertaken including land topographic and bathymetric surveys; hydrodynamic and mercury transport modelling; evaluation of mercury depositional history and Rivers recovery projections; the maintenance of a consolidated database, and development of a conceptual site model.
Considerable progress has been made in identifying concentrations of mercury in sediment, water and fish, but more work will be needed to fill in data gaps. Additional work is also needed to finish developing a conceptual site model and to fully understand mercury transport, mercury methylation dynamics and whether other contaminants should be considered for remediation.
Funding was also provided to each Member and Participant First Nation to meaningfully participate in the Panel, Technical Subcommittee, and Responsible Party Working Group. This facilitated First Nations in making informed decisions on the effective use of the Trust funds, and for the engagement of their communities and youth related to the work of the Panel.
With recognition to the valuable contributions of each represented government, the Panel is currently making progress towards filling in data gaps in an effort to remediate the English and Wabigoon Rivers.
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Original total budget approved to Wabauskang First Nation
- footnote[2] Back to paragraph Total funds previously disbursed to Wabauskang First Nation: $148,583.26
- footnote[3] Back to paragraph Returned funds were in transit at the end of the previous fiscal and were deposited on January 25, 2025.