The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has concerns about possible First Nations evacuations with the upcoming spring thaw and forest fire season.
The organization has sent a letter to Minister Greg Rickford and Minister Sylvia Jones asking for a plan in the wake of the on-going COVID-19 crisis.
President Wendy Landry says area Municipalities aren’t equipped right now to host displaced residents.
“Our facilities are all closed. Our municipal offices are closed. The arenas, the libraries, all of those public places are closed. Public parks are closed.”
Landry says ensuring the safety and well-being of evacuees is their first priority.
However, she stresses “Those who continue to work are focused on essential service delivery and activities associated with continuity of governance and business operations. There is no capacity to deal with the heavy workload of emergency management normally carried out by host community staff.”
Landry adds she’s extremely worried about the impact of an evacuation and the spread of the coronavirus into remote communities without medical resources available.
NOMA has suggested setting up temporary or portable housing and facilities in serviced Provincial Parks.
Landry says they plan to meet with both levels of senior government to develop a strategy.
