The government says more than 200 people in the First Nations communities of Grassy Narrows and Wabaseemoong receive the payments, which have been frozen since 1985.

Former federal Liberal leader Bob Rae says he was unaware during his tenure as Ontario premier that there was likely ongoing mercury contamination taking place upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Premier Kathleen Wynne insists she's "deadly serious" about wanting to clean up the mercury contamination that has plagued the Grassy Narrows First Nation for decades, but doesn't want to make the situation worse.