THUNDER BAY – A Northwestern Ontario MPP says COVID-19 has broken through the lines of defence put up to keep it out of First Nations communities and he’s demanding the province take action to reverse course.
Sol Mamakwa, who represents the NDP in Kiiwetinoong, said the wall must be rebuilt after three new cases were reported on Thursday in Webequie First Nation, along with two in Pikangikum First Nation, one in Lac Seul First Nation and one more in Poplar Hill First Nation.
Additionally, an external worker who recently left Nibinamik First Nation also tested positive for COVID-19. The cases were announced on Thursday by the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority.
“Doug Ford said his government was going to act weeks ago, yet today here we are with several First Nations struggling to contain the virus,” said Mamakwa in a release issued on Friday.
“First Nation families and communities have been doing absolutely everything they can to stop the spread of COVID-19, but Doug Ford’s failure to contain the virus in the rest of the province means COVID-19 has broken through community lines of defence.”
Mamakwa, along with Mushkegowuk-James Bay NDP MPP Guy Bourgouin, are urging Premier Doug Ford and his government to also provide quicker action in response to an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Constance Lake First Nation, calling for an isolation site for residents who have tested positive and are unable to stay in their homes.
Bourgouin said he wants the community, located northeast of Hearst, to have access to rapid tests, and deployments of nurses and health care workers to help those who are in quarantine.
“Doug Ford must act now to focus his efforts in First Nations communities to prevent catastrophe as the chronic lack of health care, crowded housing conditions, lack of clean water, and isolation means Far North communities are especially vulnerable to outbreaks,” said Bourgouin.
“The people of Constance Lake and Ginoogaming need Ford’s help now. They cannot afford to wait for his continued delays on providing the resources they need to contain the virus.”
Eleven cases were reported in the community earlier this month. It’s the second time the community has declared a state of emergency because of COVID-19.
