The City of Thunder Bay has stopped taking in evacuees for the time being.
City Manager Norm Gale tells us as it stands they have around a thousand Pikangikum residents staying the city right now.
“That is the greatest number, only rivalled one time in the past [in 2006]. We are one of a handful of communities that are accepting evacuees now. We are beyond the level we can provide for safety, security and happiness for people who are in our city and under duress.”
The city has already accepted 200 residents and was prepared to take another 200 but can’t because their emergency services are already taxed.
Around 700 residents self-evacuated to Thunder Bay and are getting help from the Independent First Nations Alliance.
IFNA CEO Matthew Hoppe says the community is thankful for the support Thunder Bay and others have shown.
Hoppe notes there are 4,500 residents in Pikangikum, and at last check, there were around 2,000 waiting to be evacuated.
The Chiefs of Ontario is urging other communities in Ontario to step up and help house evacuees. Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald says there’s a significant shortage of hosts and resources. “We understand that
Pikangikum evacuees are now being sent to Saskatchewan. There’s no good reason why we aren’t looking after our own here in Ontario. We are requesting that municipalities open their doors to their northern neighbours during this crisis.”
Saskatchewan has accepted up to 2,000 residents while the City of Peele and London are also taking in evacuees.
Meanwhile, Thunder Bay’s Mayor is calling on the province and the federal government to work on creating a better system for housing evacuees.
Bill Mauro tells us it doesn’t seem fair that when Thunder Bay is taxed, other communities in Ontario won’t step up.
“We have such a shortage of host communities that Thunder Bay is doing its share and probably more, while other communities just say no. Their Mayors and emergency services will make their decisions and make their choice, and we aren’t judging their choice, but there seem to be gaps, and we need to have a better system in place for the future.”
The Mayor goes on to say that they aren’t worried about the financial restraints of hosting evacuees because they know they’ll be reimbursed. He notes that they are concerned about how they can provide emergency services. “The ability of our emergency services personnel at the three main levels [fire, ems and police] to be able to provide the level of support that those people need and to be able to meet our core mandate to the citizens of Thunder Bay. These three services are already stretched to their limit already.”
