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Trudeau vows to fund Shoal Lake 40 road

If elected, Justin Trudeau promises a Liberal government would fund the federal share of Freedom Road into Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. The Liberal Leader made the announcement speaking to a crowd in Calgary on Saturday.
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Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau committed to building an all-season access road to Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, should his party form the next government. A federal election is expected in the fall. (Supplied Photo)

If elected, Justin Trudeau promises a Liberal government would fund the federal share of Freedom Road into Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. 

The Liberal Leader made the announcement speaking to a crowd in Calgary on Saturday.

"Around Shoal Lake, simple answer: yes. A Liberal party will step up and do its share," Trudeau said.

"We recognize our collective responsibility on that and the federal government will step up as part of that need as well." 

Former Kenora MP and Minister of Indian Affairs,is looking to make a political comeback in October, facing incumbent Conservative Minister of Natural Resources, Greg Rickford.

"Living conditions on Shoal Lake are unacceptable," Nault said in a release, following Trudeau's announcement.

"Building the Freedom Road is an important first step to improving these conditions and allowing future generations in Shoal Lake 40 to prosper." 

Rickford was in Shoal Lake on June 24 to announce year-old funding for a study that would plan "Freedom Road," an all-season road to from the peninsula to the TransCanada Highway.

Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg, however, were also on hand and were prepared to commit to funding a third of the road's construction.

Shoal Lake 40 has been isolated on its peninsula since 1914, when reserve land was expropriated to build an aquaduct that pipes Shoal Lake's water 150 kilometres into Winnipeg.  Many people have drowned crossing the channel during the freeze and thaw.

The First Nation near the Ontario/Manitoba border has also been under a boil-water advisory for 18 years. 

The First Nation launched an outreach campaign last year at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Amnesty International, the Council of Canadians and the museum staff have all called the community's conditions a violation of human rights.

Winnipeggers are also expressing solidarity through attempting to crowd fund the estimated $10-million federal share of Freedom Road.     

 





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