The provincial government is asking the federal government to take extra steps to protect northern First Nations from COVID-19 outbreaks.
Five communities have reported nine new cases in the past couple of days.
Minister of Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford says they continue to work closely with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and their leadership.
“They have an extraordinary public health program that we’ve supported and for the most part any epidemiologist will tell you, speaking as a former nurse who specialized in community and public health when I lived in those communities for more than eight years, we saw an absolutely, impressively low, virtually non-existent COVID positivity rate during the first wave and well into the second.”
Rickford says Indigenous communities have done an outstanding job protecting their residents.
However, the Kenora-Rainy River MPP points out the virus and its variants are becoming far more contagious and stresses First Nation communities aren’t immune.
Rickford says he has been participating in forums with Indigenous leaders as well as Cabinet and health officials and states they continue to look at providing critical support and resources.
“We share the prevailing view that the federal government, who provides substantially healthcare on reserve particularly in the public health space, needs to ensure that they remain as committed as we’ve been.”
Rickford adds working with NAN they need the federal government to match the provincial commitment and provide on-the-ground support.
(Picture Taken Before COVID-19)
