St. Clair River (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Dave Dentinger)

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A comprehensive Sarnia health study, called for by local officials since 2006, is expected to begin this fall.

The updated timeline comes from Ontario Environment Ministry spokesman Gary Wheeler.

“The ministry is currently compiling environmental data for the Sarnia area, and anticipates initiating the project this fall,” Wheeler said in an email to BlackburnNews.com.

He said they’re working on finalizing a project plan for the Sarnia Area Environmental Health Project.

Wheeler said the ministry has met with Aamjiwnaang First Nation, health agencies, government partners and industry to gather input.

Once the project plan is finalized, he said the ministry will seek out proposals from third parties to carry out aspects of the study.

Former Lambton Community Health Study Chair Anne Marie Gillis is pleased to hear the news, saying it’s been a long time coming.

“If we had the health study at the point where it should be now, we would have had the health study done and we would have had definitive evidence for our area,” said Gillis. “But, I welcome any initiative that brings in money and continues on the good work that people started in 2006 and are hoping for a conclusion. If we had some definitive evidence that there has been a detrimental effect on peoples’ health that are living in close proximity to Chemical Valley, then that would give us the ammunition that we need to get the help that we need to address that issue.”

Gillis said she wasn’t sure if the project was going to continue, given recent cuts by the Doug Ford Conservatives.

The cost of the project, initially estimated at $5 million, was to be shared by the provincial and federal governments and the community.

-With Files From Josh Boyce