Meetings are planned by the Northern Ontario Municipal Association to sort out what can be done for First Nation communities facing spring flooding.
President Wendy Landry tells us they’re seeking solutions since evacuees are not coming to Thunder Bay due to safety amid COVID-19.
“Potentially using maybe our provincial parks for example, and setting up housing for those communities that need to be evacuated. Use provincial parks with some housing measures that the province and feds can come to the table with,” notes Landry.
The NOMA presidents adds her own parents are in lockdown in the First Nation community they live in. She also says the decision is not about politics.
“Our facilities are all closed. Our municipal offices are all closed. Take Thunder Bay for example, the arenas, the libraries, all of those public places are closed, the public parks are closed,” says Landry.
She also points out it makes little sense to move people where the risk is greater, such as Thunder Bay District with 33 confirmed.
“Bringing people into communities that have numerous positive cases, that potentially don’t have any in their own communities right now, and then housing them. Where would the evacuees stay where our hotels are closed,” points out Landry.
