It appears community support is on city council’s side when it comes to hosting evacuees from flood prone Northern Ontario First Nation areas.
At-large councillor Rebecca Johnson tells us that’s her sense, as she and her colleagues overwhelmingly differ with some city administrators who’ve shied away due to COVID-19.
“They’re looking at it from the health perspective, from the police perspective, from the ambulance, and they should be doing that. But I think we have to look at things from a broader perspective,” says Johnson.
The city councillor acknowledges many share concerns expressed by police, ambulance or health care professionals.
“But at the same point in time, we have to look at who we are as a community. It is a very difficult situation. But it goes beyond the COVID,” points out the At-large councillor.
She adds there are benefits of bringing evacuees here, such as economic.
“We want to be a welcoming community. We know there are a lot of businesses that benefit, such as hotels. That’s one,” says Johnson.
The At-Large Councillor says she and all her colleagues recently voted to support hosting evacuees, but added policy change needs to happen, so council can have a say. She adds right now it’s a political issue, as the Emergency Measures Table makes the decisions, without elected city council which isn’t right.
