David Suzuki adding his voice to Gogama, Ont. cleanup fight: area MPP

As the fight continues over cleanup efforts done after a calamitous train derailment near Gogama, Ont., the area's MPP says a well-known environmentalist will add his voice to the mix.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas said David Suzuki has been recruited to help the citizens of Gogama and the nearby Mattagami First Nation.

"Mr. Suzuki has promised that he will raise the issue with the premier, with the [environment] minister, as well as help us put pressure on all the parties," she said, adding that the ministry needs to order CN to do further cleanup.

• Train carrying crude oil derails near Gogama, Ont.

• Northern Ontario community presses for more oil cleanup after CN derailment

• 'The science is not what they want to hear': CN spokesperson on Gogama

• More than 100 people gather along highway 144 to protest Gogama derailment clean-up

In March 2015, a CN train derailed and caught on fire, sending more than one million litres of crude oil into the nearby MakamiRiver.

CN cleaned up the site, but traces of oil still remain in the water, which worries area residents and community officials.

The railway has said that more than1,000 tests of soil and water in the area show there is just a trace amount of oil in the river, and that it doesn't pose a risk to fish or drinking water.

CN also contends that experts are saying that trying to remove more contaminated soil from the riverbed could be even more damaging to the environment.

Earlier in October, more than100 people gathered along Highway 144 to protest what they feel is an inadequate cleanup job, with Gogama's fire chief saying that the protest was "step number one." He's also taken his concerns to the Prime Minister.

The issue is still clearly top-of-mind for many, as Gelinas also held a news conference about the issue earlier this week, flanked by officials from Gogama and Mattagami.

Work is also underway to have Suzuki himself visit the crash site, she said.