To the editor:
This is an open letter to James Bradley, Minister of Community Safety, Correctional Services and Emergency Management regarding Cat Lake and other northern communities.
I have been in contact with officials from Cat Lake First Nation. It appears that by the middle of next week residents of the community who have been evacuated will be able to return to their homes.
While this is good news, there is another crisis facing those in Cat Lake: a serious food shortage.
With the power having been out in the community for nearly two weeks, the food supply is extremely limited.
Those who did not evacuate report that food that had been stored in freezers is now spoiled and that the Northern Store is down to canned food only.
While the community’s Northern Store may be able to replenish their stocks a few days after people return, the fact remains that most people will be unable to afford that food due to the high cost of goods in fly-in only communities.
Many people make trips during the winter months when their community is accessible by ice road to communities like Red Lake, Dryden and Sioux Lookout to stock up on lower cost frozen foods and meats, which they keep in the freezer for the rest of the year.
Many others stock their freezers with meat that has been hunted and they will not be able to replenish that supply until hunting season opens in the fall.
These frozen foods and meats are now no longer suitable for consumption and restocking those supplies is not an option until the ice road reopens next February or March.
Many of these people affected by this crisis live off of a very limited income and would not be able to afford to replenish their supplies even if they could access roads when they return to their communities.
Minister, what are you willing to do to help those not only in Cat Lake but also Slate Falls, Pickle Lake and Mishkeegogamang that have suffered greatly as a result of this prolonged power outage?
While Pickle Lake and Mishkeegogamang may have access to roads, many in their communities have also seen a year’s supply of meat and other items spoil.
I urge you to take immediate action to ensure that residents affected by this crisis will have food and other supplies available to them when they return home.
This is an open letter to James Bradley, Minister of Community Safety, Correctional Services and Emergency Management regarding Cat Lake and other northern communities.
I have been in contact with officials from Cat Lake First Nation. It appears that by the middle of next week residents of the community who have been evacuated will be able to return to their homes.
While this is good news, there is another crisis facing those in Cat Lake: a serious food shortage.
With the power having been out in the community for nearly two weeks, the food supply is extremely limited.
Those who did not evacuate report that food that had been stored in freezers is now spoiled and that the Northern Store is down to canned food only.
While the community’s Northern Store may be able to replenish their stocks a few days after people return, the fact remains that most people will be unable to afford that food due to the high cost of goods in fly-in only communities.
Many people make trips during the winter months when their community is accessible by ice road to communities like Red Lake, Dryden and Sioux Lookout to stock up on lower cost frozen foods and meats, which they keep in the freezer for the rest of the year.
Many others stock their freezers with meat that has been hunted and they will not be able to replenish that supply until hunting season opens in the fall.
These frozen foods and meats are now no longer suitable for consumption and restocking those supplies is not an option until the ice road reopens next February or March.
Many of these people affected by this crisis live off of a very limited income and would not be able to afford to replenish their supplies even if they could access roads when they return to their communities.
Minister, what are you willing to do to help those not only in Cat Lake but also Slate Falls, Pickle Lake and Mishkeegogamang that have suffered greatly as a result of this prolonged power outage?
While Pickle Lake and Mishkeegogamang may have access to roads, many in their communities have also seen a year’s supply of meat and other items spoil.
I urge you to take immediate action to ensure that residents affected by this crisis will have food and other supplies available to them when they return home.
Howard Hampton, MPP
Kenora-Rainy River
