The federal government is being asked to do more to support the winter road network in the far north.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Jason Smallboy says the roads play a critical role in the transportation of fuel.
“When a community doesn’t get all the fuel that they need, they have to fly it in. When that happens, a lot of the communities have to pay for it out of their own pocket, through maybe other programs within the community, and that’s a financial strain,” he explains.
Smallboy stresses that when that happens, it impacts leadership’s planning for where that money should have actually been used.
He notes that flying in fuel can cost as much as a half-million to one million dollars.
Smallboy also points out winter roads let residents travel south to buy groceries at more reasonable prices.
