Northern Towns Breathe Easier

March 26, 2010

The federal government will help airlift supplies to aboriginal communities left stranded because of the early melting of winter roads.  Many drivers have been stuck in northern Manitoba as winter roads melt earlier than expected. Additionally, the critical supply route to northern reserves has been cut off.

Ron Evans, grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, would prefer a more permanent solution: all-weather roads to northern communities and faster approval of building projects.  Evans and Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl confirmed that the federal government will pay to get supplies like fuel, building materials and chemicals for water systems flown into remote First Nations communities.  "INAC has agreed to take action," Evans said. "They have agreed to work with the leadership and come up with additional funding." At this time, Evans said no dollar figure has been set.

"Minister Strahl stressed that in cases where there is a shortage of essential supplies, our government will help" according to Strahl's press secretary, Nina Chiarelli.  She said INAC will pay the transportation costs for any materials intended for INAC-funded projects such as schools, and will assist with the costs for other essential supplies linked to INAC programming.

Additional funding is necessary because of the shortened winter road season caused by the unseasonably warm weather.  Consequently, sixteen northern communities declared a state of emergency with at least one, Red Sucker Lake First Nation, running out of fuel to run its buses.

Dozens of drivers have been stranded in the wilderness by muddy ice roads.  A rescue plane was dispatched on Friday to get a dozen members of the remote Island Hill First Nation, who had become stuck on their way home from Winnipeg and were reported missing by family.  Police said a helicopter had located the convoy a few kilometres away from its destination.

Manitoba chiefs and provincial and federal representatives are scheduled to meet again on Monday in Winnipeg to discuss the problem of INAC officials taking so long to approve projects, it leaves little time to get materials shipped across winter roads.



Source: Winnipeg Free Press