Grassy Narrows chief wants Carney to apologize in person for comments about protester

Prime Minister Mark Carney listens to a reporter's question following an announcement in Wakefield, Que., Tuesday, March 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The chief of Grassy Narrows First Nation is demanding an in person apology from Prime Minister Mark Carney after he said “I can outlast her” when a press conference he held in Toronto on Monday was disrupted by mercury-poisoning protesters.

Chrissy Isaacs, a Grassy Narrows First Nation woman suffering from mercury poisoning, was in Toronto on Monday to demand compensation from the provincial government for mercury contamination in her community.

Grassy Narrows Chief Sherry Ackabee said in a media statement that she wants to see Carney visit her community, and nearby Wabaseemoong, to apologize, discuss compensation for mercury poisoning and the shutdown of the Dryden Paper Mill.

“We are inviting Prime Minister Carney to show leadership by meeting with us face to face in our communities to resolve the issue of mercury poisoning,” Ackabee said.

“The Prime Minister should apologize in person for insulting a Grassy Narrows mercury sufferer and meet with us about our urgent demands to fairly compensate our people and shut down the mill that continues to poison our people every day.”

• READ MORE: Tory MP echoes calls for Carney to apologize to Grassy Narrows over protest remarks
• READ MORE: First Nations chiefs demand apology after PM said he could ‘outlast’ demonstrator

The Canadian Press has reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office for comment.

A media statement issued by the PMO on Wednesday said that Carney could not hear what the protesters were saying, and that Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty is in contact with Grassy Narrows leadership.

The PMO statement said that members of Carney’s staff met with the protesters after Monday’s press conference to get a better sense of their concerns.

The Dryden Paper Mill released thousands of kilograms of mercury into Grassy Narrows’ river system from the 1960s to the 1970s.

It’s widely considered to be one of the country’s worst environmental disasters and community members are still dealing with the fallout today.

• READ MORE: Grassy Narrows First Nation sues Ontario, Canada over mercury contamination
• READ MORE: Waste from mill worsening mercury contamination in river near Grassy Narrows: study

The mill stopped using mercury in its industrial process in the 1970s, but mercury levels downstream from the plant haven’t decreased significantly since the 1980s.

It’s estimated that around 90 per cent of the Grassy Narrows population suffers from some degree of mercury poisoning.

Party critics from both the Conservative Party and NDP have said that Carney should apologize for his comments.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2026.

-- With files from Alessia Passafiume.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press