Living conditions worsen in Attawapiskat as winter nears
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
LEADER OF THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION
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Attawapiskat: NDP slams Conservative inaction in the face of suffering families
Situation deteriorating, but Harper government has turned a blind eye to needs of most vulnerable
ATTAWAPISKAT – Official Opposition Leader Nycole Turmel visited the community of Attawapiskat today, where there is a serious housing crisis.
She slammed the inaction of the Harper government, which has been slow to intervene and help families living in intolerable conditions.
“The residents of Attawapiskat are extremely concerned. Winter is approaching and the situation deteriorating. They are in urgent need of emergency aid and adequate funding to renovate their homes and build new ones to put an end to this crisis,” said Turmel.
Turmel described the living conditions on the reserve as horrible.
“Hundreds of families are living in shelters and tents, without electricity or running water. And what does this government do instead of intervening? It blamed the community.”
“This government is taking far too long to intervene in this situation,” she added.
Turmel promised that the NDP would continue to work with the community so that all families currently living in inhumane conditions will have decent housing as quickly as possible.
She is urging the Conservatives to work quickly to find a long term solution. “Temporary solutions won’t fix the serious problems faced by Attawapiskat,” she concluded.
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Wobbler 11/30/2011 8:11:07 AM ReportIt is probably going to take multiple deaths from disease or from the cold to get this government to do something!! Canada spends money on the desperate in other countries, but when it comes to their own people they will not budge. This story should be sent out to national media, so that it will be picked up by worldwide media!!! That may embarrass our government into doing something about this deplorable situation asap.
mvnnth 11/30/2011 10:37:30 AM ReportI was watching the National last night when video was shown of the "housing" situation in Attawapiskat. The units that were being filmed did not look as if they were proper year round dwellings. Maybe they were only showing those to underscore the problem but, if they are representative of the housing units in the community, that is incredible.
Mr. Boboliona 11/30/2011 11:33:32 AM ReportThat community of 2000 has received some $90 million. That is over $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the community. Maybe the NDP should look into that as well.
jinjin 11/30/2011 1:43:05 PM ReportThis community was never built as a permanant settlement. It was never intended as a long term housing project. There is no reason these people couldn't be moved to a larger center in the area. One with infrastructure that can handle this population, where spending money will go to actually building sustainable housing. Prior to 1970, this was never an actual community. Attiwapiskat was only ever meant to be a spring and summer fishing encampment. As a first nations man myself, I'd rather see these people moved to a developed first nation than trying to make it through another 10 years with no proper shelter, schools or infrastructure. As a tax payer in Ontario, I feel it would be irresponsible for the government to back an $89 million initial build of a new community. Initial build is exactly what it would be.
Nunavut 12/1/2011 8:05:56 AM ReportThis seems to be a prime example of how "self government" has failed the natives. Because of no accountability for the money and resources they are given to handle the problems.
As of this morning it looks like the Federal Government has appointed a third party to take over the community governance.
Another aspect is that without natives being allowed to own their homes , there is no pride of ownership. So then the houses built only a few years ago are left to rot without maintenance and even the walls used as firewood. Imagine if they owned their homes and knew that they would be able to hand their homes down to their children in wills after death... how that would help break the poverty circle. In the rest of the world homes are the primary asset. Although complicated to administer on reserves it needs to be considered a way out of the cycle.
ankatea 12/8/2011 10:49:59 AM ReportThe money was given but it has been found out that they only actually recieved a small portion of it. 6 million out of 90? (rough estimates). considering it costs 25 bucks for juice and a few pieces of fruit, i think staying alive day to day became more important than shelters...
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