Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
According to Canada Post operations officer Peggy McLean, an employee discovered the substance at approximately 4 p.m.
The discovery comes in the wake of several confirmed cases of anthrax spores in powdered form found in national media outlets across the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Officials in Ottawa were also mobilized yesterday after an anthrax scare hit Parliament Hill.
"We've had it inspected, everything is fine," Mclean said of the Yellowknife scare. "It was just a precaution."
RCMP, the fire department, and a biological response team from Stanton Regional Hospital were immediately summoned to the scene, while both the downtown post office and sorting plant were closed and staff sent home.
Both facilities were disinfected with anti-bacterial agents. Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief medical officer of the NWT, said both were safe to re-open Tuesday morning.
According to Dr. Corriveau, the employee who discovered the substance was also disinfected at the sorting plant, and later allowed to return home.
Dr. Corriveau and RCMP confirmed that the powder was discovered inside a carrier bag, but were still uncertain of its origin.
"There is no real indication that it came from a mail package," said RCMP constable Rob James.
Even though Dr. Corriveau said he believed the substance was "benign," health officials erred on the side of caution, and sent the powder to the National Biology Lab in Winnipeg for tests.
"It will take another 24 hours to determine what it was," said Dr. Corriveau yesterday morning.
"It could be cocaine, flour, baking powder... We don't know what it is."
With a continent currently seated at the edge of hysteria as the result of biological attacks by yet unknown parties, health officials in Canada have been working overtime investigating a rash of anthrax scares.
Dr. Corriveau pointed out that there have yet to be any confirmed cases in Canada of anthrax spores being sent through the mail.
He did say, if the anthrax-tainted letters are the work of terrorists, their goal in creating mass panic is working.
"The terrorists are getting what they wanted," said Dr. Corriveau. "They are scaring us and keeping us mobilized."
