About the Mercury Disability Board
The Mercury Disability Board is a non-profit, legislation and community based organization.
Between 1962 and 1975, a pulp & paper plant in Dryden, Ontario, discharged approximately 10,000 kg of mercury into the English and Wabigoon River Systems. The two First Nation communities upstream of this contamination, Grassy Narrows First Nation (ANA) and Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (WIN), sought compensation for their membership for the damage to their eco system, which threatened their cultural way of life, their livelihood and their dietary mainstay of fish.
In 1986, the Mercury Disability Board (MDB) was established and proclaimed after the Ontario parliament adopted the English and Wabigoon River Systems Mercury Contamination Settlement Agreement Act c23, concluding a series of negotiations and mediations which began in the mid to late 1970’s, led by the two First Nation representatives as plaintiffs, against the following defendants: Reed Limited, Dryden Chemicals Limited, Dryden Paper Company Limited, Reed Incorporated, Great Lake Forest Products Limited, Her Majesty the Queen in the Right of the Province of Ontario. The Honourable David Crombie, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada served assisted in arriving at this Settlement Agreement. It had taken 16 years from knowledge of the disaster to the settlement.
In January 2019, the four parties defined as ANA, WIN, Canada and Ontario, set up an independent Expert Panel, the MDB Reform Expert Panel. The mandate of the MDB Reform Expert Panel was to review the symptomology defined in the Plan Document, 1987, which was the Mercury Disability Board Fund, to seek to elaborate whether further conditions exist in children and adults as a result of methyl mercury exposure. Findings would be reported to the MDB and the Parties for consideration. This would also include a review of the assignment of points to establish compensation by the plan Administrator, resulting in upgrading related MDB documents, policies and procedures.
Ultimately, the findings, presented as the MDB Reform Expert Panel Final Report, February 2021, acknowledged 51 Recommendations for change. These recommendations resulted in a reorganization of the MDB processes regarding medical assessments, as well as a review of the point score system assigned.
The MDB is committed, along with its stakeholders, to continue to achieve results that align with the needs of WIN and ANA.
Principles of the Board
- To provide services in accordance with the English and Wabigoon River Systems Mercury Contamination Settlement Agreement Act, 1986 (Ontario) and the Grassy Narrows and Islington Bands Mercury Pollution Claims Settlement Act, 1986 (Canada).
- To base all claimant decisions on medical opinion and independent, individualized assessments.
- To act in good faith in relation to any aspect of the proceedings of the Board.
Subcommittees of the Board
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee of the Board meets quarterly. It is responsible for: reviewing the investment of the Fund and its status in relation to reports provided by the Administrator of the fund and claims paid; reviewing Board expenses in relation to the approved budget amounts per fiscal year; and reviewing the Statement of Investment Policy entered into with the Administrator in regards to the investment strategy of the Fund annually. Committee membership is decided by the Board through motion.
Service Committee
The Service Committee has been mandated by the Board to assess appeals when received from claimants of the Mercury Disability Fund and to hear claimant presentations on behalf of the Board. The Service Committee of the Board meets as needed to fulfill its mandate.
Current Board Membership
Doug Devlin, Chair
Aaron Kokopenace, Grassy Narrows First Nation Rep
Gloria Paishk, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations Rep
Dr. Sara Goulet, Physician Rep
Dr. Lisa Monkman, Physician Rep
Search Committee
The Search Committee is responsible to:
- Review, revise or re-appoint (unanimously) membership on the Mercury Disability Board as needed. It is the sole discretion of the Search Committee to appoint/change appointments at any time.
- Review the proposed budget for Board expenses for the upcoming fiscal year. Submit the approved budget to their respective governmental body to review and recommend changes to or approve the proposed budget.
- Review and approve the workplan for the upcoming fiscal year.
- Review the audit of the Fund and Board expenses presented annually at the conclusion of each fiscal year.
- Review statements of financial position of Board expenses; review the activities of the Board and review claims and appeal statistics in relation to the approved budget, workplan and usage of the Fund in the payment of claims.
Meetings of the Search Committee are held semi-annually and additionally as needed at a location convenient to all involved with the consent of all involved.