The federal government needs to clean up toxic waste at more than 3,600 sites and 17 abandoned mines so that future generations don't get stuck with the fallout, says the federal environment commissioner.

In her annual report to Parliament, Johanne Gelinas slammed the federal government for ignoring what amounts to an environmental time bomb.

"If we fail to act our health our environment, and our economic prosperity will be put at a greater risk," Gelinas said. "Inaction will also raise questions about the government's credibility."

Johanne Gelinas

Contaminated sites under federal responsibility were red-flagged as possible environmental problems 13 years ago, and Gelinas says Ottawa still doesn't know how many are contaminated. There's no action plan for cleaning them up, and no money set aside to do the job.

"No one appears to be in charge," she said.

The government doesn't properly screen the more than 25,000 industrial chemicals and 6,000 pesticides being used in Canada, the report says.

And the government isn't monitoring how much of those chemicals are making their way into the blood, breast milk and urine of Canadians.

At the neglected waste sites, chemicals such as arsenic, cyanide and other noxious substances are leaching into the soil and groundwater, the report says.

Near the Giant Mine in Yellowknife, the mining byproduct arsenic trioxide has contaminated water so badly that residents avoid the area.

The government also has no way of ranking how dangerous those sites are.

"By failing to deal in a timely manner with contaminated sites in its own backyard," Gelinas says, the government is leaving a legacy for future generations with a huge health and environmental price tag.

"The government needs to act now to avoid a troubling legacy for our children," Gelinas said.

Ottawa currently spends $100 million to clean up and manage contaminated sites, which is about $3 per Canadian, the report says.

"At the current rate of spending, it will take decades to correct," Gelinas said.

A proper action plan would need billions, Gelinas said.

At Yellowknife's Giant Mine, the government is looking at clean-ups that range in cost anywhere for $55 million to $500 million.

The commissioner has no power to order government action. Environment Canada has already rejected a key recommendation that it require government agencies to clean up or contain toxic sites.