Kenora’s MPP is trying to put Neskantaga First Nation’s plight on Queen’s Park’s Radar.
The fly-in community has been hit by a recent epidemic of suicides and as a result has called a state of emergency. .
MPP Sarah Campbell (NDP, Kenora-Rainy River) described the situation to Premier Kathleen Wynne during question period Tuesday.
Campbell says the community attributes the suicides to its deplorable social conditions. Those conditions include prescription drug abuse, poor water quality, inadequate policing and lack of access to mental health workers.
Campbell says these are longstanding issues that she says the province has been aware of.
The community has now had seven reported suicides in the past year and 20 known attempts.
Campbell added that this isn't the first remote, far North community to declare a state of emergency, it's just the latest.
Wynne insists she's committed to First Nations, and plans on addressing the complex issues to make sure the services flow to remote communities.
(Thunder Bay Television)
