Transport Canada has been aware of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, since the 1980s, as revealed in files obtained through an access-to-information request. PFAS, a group of thousands of chemicals, have been associated with various health risks including liver and prostate cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, fatty liver disease, and impacts on lipid function linked to Type 2 diabetes.
Over the years, Transport Canada, along with the Department of National Defence (DND) and the National Research Council of Canada, conducted firefighter training exercises at airports nationwide using aqueous film-forming foams containing PFAS. While these foams were effective in combating jet fuel fires, their use led to groundwater contamination with PFAS at multiple sites across Canada.
In Newfoundland, Alex Templeton, a partner at the McInnes Cooper law firm, is leading a proposed class-action lawsuit regarding the contamination of drinking water wells near airports. The lead plaintiffs, Eddie and Susan Sheerr, had their wells tested by Transport Canada and found levels of PFAS exceeding Health Canada’s guidelines.
Templeton acquired Transport Canada documents through access-to-information requests, including a 1984 report highlighting the high toxicity of effluents from firefighter training sites. The reports also raised concerns about outdated standards for containment and disposal of effluents and the potential impact of winter conditions on run-off.
In response to the revelations, Transport Canada stated that their firefighting activities were conducted in compliance with environmental practices at the time and emphasized that PFAS was not recognized as a contaminant back then. However, Templeton challenged this statement, citing discrepancies with the information contained in the 1984 and 1990 reports.
The concerns over PFAS contamination have also extended to North Bay, where efforts are underway to remediate PFAS contamination in the drinking water. A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed in North Bay, alleging that DND was aware of elevated PFAS levels in groundwater near the airport and failed to act promptly.
Residents like Liza Vandermeer in North Bay have expressed frustration over the lack of communication and follow-up actions by authorities despite early warnings about PFAS contamination dating back to the 1980s.