Transport Canada has had concerns about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, since the 1980s, according to documents obtained through an access-to-information request. These PFAS chemicals have been associated with various health issues like liver and prostate cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, fatty liver disease, and impacts on lipid function, which is 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 across the country using aqueous film-forming foams containing PFAS. While these foams were effective in combating jet fuel fires, their use led to PFAS contamination in groundwater at various sites nationwide.
Alex Templeton, a partner at the McInnes Cooper law firm in St. John’s, is spearheading a proposed class-action lawsuit related to the contamination of drinking water wells near several airports in Newfoundland. The lead plaintiffs, Eddie and Susan Sheerr, had their wells tested by Transport Canada, revealing contamination levels exceeding Health Canada’s recommended limit for PFAS in drinking water.
Records obtained through access-to-information requests by Templeton disclosed Transport Canada’s awareness of the potential environmental impact of the effluent produced during firefighter training exercises as far back as 1984. A 1990 report also highlighted concerns about groundwater contamination risks from runoff at these training sites.
Transport Canada initiated standards in 1979 to manage effluent at these sites, but subsequent reports indicated that these standards were outdated by 1990 and did not address winter conditions’ impact on runoff. Despite Transport Canada’s assertion that PFAS was not a known contaminant at the time, Templeton countered by pointing to discrepancies between the reports and the agency’s response.
The reports have sparked fresh concerns in North Bay, where efforts are underway to clean up PFAS contamination, which has affected the city’s drinking water source. The proposed class-action lawsuit in North Bay alleges that DND was aware of elevated PFAS levels in groundwater near the airport and that communication between Transport Canada and National Defence was lacking. Residents like Liza Vandermeer are questioning why these concerns were not addressed earlier and why there was a lack of communication between the two agencies.
