December 6th, 2022

Mamakwa says Ford must not ignore Indigenous and northern communities facing natural disasters

QUEEN’S PARK – Sol Mamakwa, NDP Deputy Leader and critic for Indigenous and Treaty Relations, said it’s unacceptable for the Ford government to ignore Indigenous and northern communities when they grapple with natural disasters like flooding and wildfires.

Mamakwa’s comments come after the recent Auditor General’s report outlined how the Ford government was not doing enough to help municipalities with disaster planning and coordinating timely responses to natural disasters.

“This spring, Kiiwetinoong experienced unprecedented flooding,” said Mamakwa Monday in Question Period. “Highway 105 was washed out, separating Red Lake and Ear Falls from the rest of Ontario. Sioux Lookout experienced flooding that damaged over 30 homes and businesses, including two hotels.

“Every year, communities in Kiiwetinoong evacuate because of fires that threaten everything. The Auditor General’s report found that it took up to 11 hours to coordinate a response. This is unacceptable. I am calling on this government to improve forest fire responsiveness and planning for communities and First Nations in the north.”