NORTHERN ONTARIO - Northern NDP MPPs have written an open letter to Minister of Health Christine Elliott calling on her to include northern rural communities in the provincial government’s distribution plan for free antigen tests.
February 10, 2022
Hon. Christine Elliott
Ministry of Health
College Park 5th Flr, 777 Bay St,
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Minister Elliott,
We are writing to you today on behalf of our constituents who live in small northern communities, often hours away from any pharmacy or chain grocery stores. These Ontarians have no access to the millions of free rapid antigen tests your government is distributing.
With this in mind, we ask that your ministry ensure that these test kits be available at nursing stations, general stores with an LCBO site and Northern community health centres to improve access to Northern rural residents.
Minister, COVID-19 cases continue to pop up across the province regardless of the size of the community. As the province adds new measures, such as rapid antigen tests to control the pandemic, it is imperative that these tests be distributed in an equitable manner to the residents of Northern rural Ontario.
Sincerely,
(Original letter signed)
Gilles Bisson
MPP/député
Timmins
Guy Bourgouin
MPP/député
Mushkegowuk-James Bay
France Gélinas
MPP/députée
Nickel Belt
Sol Mamawka
MPP/député
Kiiwetinoong
Judith Monteith-Farrell
MPP/députée
Thunder Bay-Atikokan
Michael Mantha
MPP/député
Algoma-Manitoulin
John Vanthof
MPP/député
Timiskaming-Cochrane
Jamie West
MPP/député
Sudbury