Harmful Material Suspected in On-Reserve Housing

Harmful Material Suspected in On-Reserve Housing

Thursday, September 02, 2004 at 16:33

A study of on-reserve housing across Canada has turned up a startling statistic for our province.

Officials with the department of Indian Affairs report that 276 buildings in Saskatchewan that are on band-owned land may contain insulation-materials recenlty linked to the deaths of two Manitoba residents.

Gilles Rochon of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada says the material is known as vermiculite and was used mainly in the 60’s and 70’s by a company out of Montana.

It’s not known how many of the buildings may actually still be standing but Rochon says the department is contacting all the bands that may be affected.

Rochon adds vermiculite is dangerous only when it is released into the air or contacted directly.

The material usually comes in the form of grey-coloured pellets that fall out of old insulation.