Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Caitlin Cleveland issued the following statement today in response to the discovery of elevated lead levels in drinking water at two Yellowknife schools:

“As a parent, a resident of Yellowknife, and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, I am deeply concerned by the recent test results indicating elevated lead levels in the drinking water at École William McDonald Middle School and Range Lake North School.

“I take this situation extremely seriously. I was first made aware of the results on Monday evening, and immediately ensured precautionary steps were underway. By Tuesday morning, all drinking and cooking water sources at both schools were taken offline — including fountains and cold-water taps in food preparation areas.

“Safe drinking and cooking water is now being provided through bottled water and bulk water dispensers. I want to reassure families that Yellowknife’s municipal water supply remains safe, and that the water in the schools continues to be suitable for handwashing, cleaning, and other classroom uses.

“Follow-up system-wide testing is now underway at both schools, in consultation with the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO), to confirm the initial results and inform any longer-term measures needed to keep students safe at school. We expect an update within the next week, after which the OCPHO will provide further direction based on the findings.

“Beyond the test results themselves, it’s clear that there’s room to improve how information is shared, and work is coordinated in situations like this. I’ve directed a third-party review to begin immediately to understand how this happened and ensure full accountability. I’m committed to transparency and will report publicly on what we learn and the steps we’ll take in response.

“While I won’t pre-judge the outcome of that review, I want to be clear: this situation is unacceptable. Parents deserve peace of mind, and students and staff deserve safe learning environments. I will do everything necessary to help restore that trust.”

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