OTTAWA – The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, issued the following statement on Attawapiskat on December 7, 2011:

“Our Government has acted to ensure the residents of Attawapiskat have access to safe and warm shelter for the coming months. We delivered urgent funding to renovate five houses and are working with Emergency Management Ontario and other partners to deliver necessities to the residents like composting toilets, high efficiency wood stoves, and building materials. Our priority is, and has always been, the health and safety of the residents of Attawapiskat. Our Action Plan to assist this community is already underway and modular homes will be delivered as soon as possible.

Action Plan to assist Attawapiskat

I have written to Chief Spence with immediate solutions that include transforming community buildings into comfortable living spaces so that people can use them as a temporary home. We are committed to the delivery of safe shelter and necessities to the community. I urge the Chief and Council to work with our Government and the Third Party Manager as we move forward together. “

The government has plans to attempt to temporarily move people off reserve if needed to make sure they are housed.

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence has yet to respond to the Minister’s statement.