Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 13/01) - Environment Canada's investigation into the spilling of several hundred thousand tonnes of sewage into Frobisher Bay continues.

Laura Johnston, Northern director for the environmental protection branch, spoke on behalf of enforcement officer Neil Scott, who was on holidays last week.

"There is nothing I can say," Johnston said.

She confirmed, though, the investigation is proceeding.

Several spills between April and July this year entered Koojesse Inlet when two lift stations temporarily broke down. The inlet flows into Frobisher Bay -- a popular boating and clam harvesting area.

Environment Canada's investigation is expected to wrap up sometime this year. The city of Iqaluit faces a maximum fine of $200,000 for each spill if found guilty under the Fisheries Act.

Matthew Hough, the city's public works director, said the spills were filed with the Nunavut spill line. The public was never notified of the spills, but Hough has repeatedly said there was no coverup.

Boaters and children continue to use the popular harbour, either unaware or unconcerned of the spills.

A ruling from the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program, a branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, will in part determine what action, if any, the DFO takes. Program representatives could not be reached by press time.

The government of the Northwest Territories was fined several hundred thousand dollars in 1993 for a similar sewage spill into Frobisher Bay.