SIOUX LOOKOUT — The Official Opposition NDP is calling on the Ford government to urgently provide supports to 33 First Nations served by the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority as they move into a regional lockdown to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the territory.
The valid concerns about the rapid spread of the virus are now being acted on by the health authority. That decision should trigger immediate support from Ontario to protect families and communities, said NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong).
“First Nations leadership across the North are taking action to protect their communities, and Doug Ford needs to act now to help our local health authorities stop the spread and support families through this Omicron wave,” said Mamakwa.
“People are getting sick at a rapid rate, and they’re scared for their loved ones. Today the 33 Chiefs in Assembly directed the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority to take a lead role in developing guidelines for the coordinated approach to manage the Omicron variant across the region. They have implemented a regional lockdown within all 33 First Nations to begin immediately. The 33 First Nations require immediate access to short-term and long-term support and partnership on the ground to support the success of those efforts. The goal here is to stop the spread and save lives — and the government should get fully on board with that.”