In a complete reversal from last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 public message, the Minister of Health and Social Services says there will be signs posted at Yellowknife lakes to warn residents of arsenic levels in the water.

SA国际影视传媒淚 provided direction earlier in the spring to move forward with signs,SA国际影视传媒� said Abernethy. SA国际影视传媒淢y direction at the time was that weSA国际影视传媒檇 cover the cost of the signs if the city would agree to post them, and there was an agreement to that.SA国际影视传媒�

But last week, the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 chief public health officer released an updated public health advisory on arsenic levels in lakes around the city which stated there were no plans to erect signs warning residents of possible dangers.

At the time, Dr. Andre Corriveau told Yellowknifer no one was interested in signs because they are expensive and tend to get vandalized.

Rather, he said the government would focus on making information about arsenic levels available online.

Why there was confusion, the minister SA国际影视传媒渃anSA国际影视传媒檛 say for sure,SA国际影视传媒� but he stressed Corriveau has been brought up to speed on the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 signage plans.

The health department is now finalizing the signsSA国际影视传媒� design and determining where at Kam Lake, Grace Lake, Jackfish Lake and Frame Lake they will be posted, Abernethy said.

During a Kam Lake constituency meeting hosted Friday night at the Multiplex by MLA Kieron Testart, the minister told a crowded room of residents the signs would be put up within the next few weeks.

According to last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 public health advisory, Frame Lake and Kam Lake contain more than 100 parts per billion of dissolved arsenic while Jackfish Lake contains between 52 and 99.9 parts per billion.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 well over Health CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 safe drinking water guidelines, which state water should contain less than 10 parts per billion of dissolved arsenic.

Residents should avoid fishing, swimming, harvesting berries, mushrooms or other edible plants at the three lakes, as well as drinking untreated water from anywhere in the NWT, according to the health advisory.

Fish should not be consumed from Kam Lake, Frame Lake or Jackfish Lake either, states the advisory, although catch-and-release fishing is OK.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources tested arsenic at Grace Lake this spring.

Results show the lake contains 15 parts per billion of dissolved arsenic, putting it above safe drinking water levels but low enough that the water is still safe for fishing and swimming.

SA国际影视传媒淣ot everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 going to go looking for this information on the internet, so we need to make sure people are aware,SA国际影视传媒� said Abernethy. SA国际影视传媒淚f nothing else, itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to cause them to be curious and hopefully theySA国际影视传媒檒l go to the website and other sources to get information.SA国际影视传媒�

One resident at FridaySA国际影视传媒檚 meeting wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 satisfied with all of the information available.

Jason Simpson, who lives in the Kam Lake area, pointed out there is no information on Niven Lake available in last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 health advisory.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just becoming a very public area,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding many people walk their dogs there, including him. SA国际影视传媒淭he idea that we donSA国际影视传媒檛 drink it or we donSA国际影视传媒檛 swim in it shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 just be the reason why we shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be worried about these things.SA国际影视传媒�

Abernethy said data for the health advisory came from university studies and other testing, which did not include Niven Lake.

Corriveau suggested people should not use the lake SA国际影视传媒渇or any purposeSA国际影视传媒� as it is a former sewage lagoon.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l talk to the minister of (Environment and Natural Resources) and see what, if any, studies are coming down the pipes and whether or not Niven can be included,SA国际影视传媒� Abernethy told Simpson.

Testart said Northerners have a right to information that affects their communities and families.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat right to know needs to be supported by the government in providing as much information as possible,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淛ust posting something on a website is not sufficient to satisfy that.SA国际影视传媒�

Stephanie Vandeputte, communications and economic development officer at the City of Yellowknife, said the mayor was unavailable to comment on the issue.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can reaffirm our position that good communication, including signage, is important in ensuring people know the risks,SA国际影视传媒� she stated by e-mail. SA国际影视传媒淲e continue to work closely with (Health and Social Services) on this.SA国际影视传媒�