First Nation seeks transparency as questions loom over Sarnia, Ont., pipeline leak
Written by The Canadian Press on March 19, 2026
The size of a Sarnia, Ont., pipeline leak remained unclear days after it was first reported, a nearby First Nation said as it issued a call for transparency.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation demanded answers about a March 11 spill it said took place along the southern fence line of Suncor’s Sarnia refinery last week, adjacent to its reserve.
In a news release this week, the First Nation said reports confirm it led fuel product to leak into the ground and St. Clair River.
“There is no end in sight. No cause of the leak has been reported to Aamjiwnaang, and we still do not know how large of a spill occurred,” the First Nation’s statement read Tuesday.
“Aamjiwnaang demands answers.”
Suncor says its preliminary investigation indicated the source of the release might be a third party. Sun-Canadian, which operates a refined oil pipeline from Sarnia to the Toronto area, says it was made aware on March 12 of the suspected release and started to investigate its system.
In a statement, it says “containment and recovery measures have been deployed,” but it did not immediately respond to questions about the size or source of the leak.
Ontario’s regulator confirmed it was investigating a “hydrocarbon spill” on March 11 from a licensed Sarnia pipeline. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority says the impacted pipeline section has been shut down and an investigation is ongoing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2026.
Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press