QUEEN’S PARK – NDP MPPs Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay) and Sol Mamakwa, NDP Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation critic, issued the following statement on Kashechewan First Nation’s agreement with the provincial and federal governments:
“New Democrats commend the members of the community of Kashechewan for their work in pressuring these governments to make the relocation of their community a priority.
Children, elders, and families have been evacuated from their homes every year for 17 years because these same governments placed Kashechewan in a known flood plain.
These governments have a long overdue responsibility to move forward on the relocation of the community to higher ground. Despite having signed a tripartite agreement in the past, the community has been left to wait as flood waters rose around their homes, once again.
Ontario's New Democrats, the Official Opposition, call on the Ford government to stop further delays and begin working on the relocation now.
The people of Kashechewan have waited long enough.”