Alternative accommodation arrangements are being made for Kashechewan First Nation members fleeing flooding after a government official made “disappointing” comments in a conference call with the remote community’s chief on Monday.
Emergency Measures Ontario had made arrangements for Greenstone to host 250 Kashechewan evacuees on cots in the Geraldton Arena.
Kashechewan Chief Leo Friday expressed concerns his community members had become sick staying in the loud and cold arena during last year’s evacuation.
As 300 evacuees are staying in Thunder Bay hotels and Kapsuskasing motels are supporting an additional 403 community members, Friday requested the 250 people scheduled to stay in the arena be offered similar accommodations.
In response, a government official told the chief, “you can go (to Greenstone) or you can stay home.”
The exchange caused a rift leading Friday to announce those members would stay in their homes, despite the threat posed by the rising Albany River.
A statement from the office of Ontario Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Yasir Naqvi expressed regret over those comments, saying they were not reflective of the government’s views.
“We are aware a comment was made by an unidentified individual during the joint planning call (Monday) morning that was both unacceptable and disappointing,” the statement reads.
“We are making inquiries as to who made these comments and we will be discussing it with our partners.”
A day after the call, Friday said motel accommodation options for those who would have been staying in the Geraldton Arena are being explored in Hearst, Smooth Rock Falls and Timmins.
“This is good, I think,” Friday said.
“We’ve finally got their attention and I feel from my people that they’re going to be having comfortable beds instead of trying to sleep in a noisy arena.”
A hundred additional "Stage 1" evacuees including children, elders and those with disabilities will be housed in Greenstone motels, as scheduled.
