TEMAGAMI — It’s been almost two months since a front-end loader went into Lake Temagami near the South Arm off Chimo Island.
The 20,000 pound machine has been in about 43 metres (150 feet) of deep water since June 30 with fears it was leaking toxic diesel and hydraulic fluid.
The Temagami Lakes Association (TLA) first raised concerns about the loader as has the Town of Temagami by contacting the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
“We remain concerned that there have been no concrete steps to date to remove this pollution threat,” said TLA chairman of natural resources and environment committee Scot Paltrow.
“We would like to see MECP take forceful, more immediate action to see that the loader is removed from the lake.”
He said the TLA’s understanding is that the MECP won’t take any action “unless there is scientific evidence that the sunken loader is creating a continuing environmental threat.”
Paltrow also believes the Ministry can take action against the loader owner, even while the Ontario Land Tribunal appeal process is happening.
The tribunal is an independent adjudicative body in Ontario that hears and decides appeals and disputes regarding land use planning, environmental and heritage protection, property valuation and municipal finance.
NEW CONCERNS
There are new concerns about the loader releasing toxic chemicals into the water and what will happen if the loader isn’t removed by the time winter arrives and the lake freezes over.
Lake Temagami resident Derek Laronde told The Speaker he has contacted the Ministry himself as he lives close to where the loader went into the lake.
He said he got the standardized responses to his questions about the loader situation from MECP, saying “it’s a priority,” but nothing is happening to remove the machine from the lake.
He mentioned the owner of the loader has appealed a specific section of an MECP order to the Ontario Land Tribunal about the removal of the machine.
“There has been no investigation process yet by the MECP so that fines can be levied,” said Laronde in an online interview.
Laronde says the Bear Island Guardians have also been monitoring the site where the loader went into the lake and he believes there was a chemical sheen spotted on the lake near islands south of Chimo Island.
“The owner is implementing stall tactics and I have informed the MECP that if the loader remains in the water when the lake freezes there will be a soft spot in the ice where the hydrocarbons accumulate. Whose responsibility will it be then if someone goes through the ice? The MECP did recognize this would be a health and safety concern.”
VANTHOF’S LETTER
The TLA and lake residents contacted Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof about their concerns over the sunken loader situation.
Vanthof wrote a letter to the MECP on behalf of the residents. He shared the response from the Ministry with TLA member and lake resident Will Goodman.
“The ministry understands that the event may cause concern when it comes to individuals’ drinking water supply,” wrote the MECP.
“Concerned residents who smell hydrocarbons in their water supply or observe signs of hydrocarbons near their drinking water supply (rainbow sheen) should provide this information to the pollution hotline at 1-866-MOE-TIPS (663-8477).”
Vanthof told the TLA that the Ministry informed him they have visited the site on multiple occasions to monitor the situation and they have collected surface water samples from the site which are currently being analysed.
The MECP told Vanthof that they were not in a position to provide definitive compliance timelines while the loader owner has an appeal application with the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Attempts to reach an MECP spokesperson to confirm whether the loader has been removed from Lake Temagami by the time The Speaker went to print were unsuccessful.
By Sue Nielsen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Aug 19, 2026 at 08:08
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