KASHECHEWAN FN – The evacuation plan for Kashechewan is in place: 550 people will be sent to Timmins, 550 to Kapuskasing, 200 to Cornwall and 200 to Thunder Bay.
Kashechewan Chief and Council passed a State of Emergency Friday, April 12, 2019. The community is evacuated every spring as the spring melt and the ice break-up in the river leads to ice dams and flooding.
Timmins James Bay MP Charlie Angus states, “The people have suffered annual trauma from the floods, evacuations, disruptions to school life and the damage to their homes and community. We had an agreement to move the community to high ground in 2005. The Harper government broke this agreement.”
Angus adds, “In 2017 there was a signed agreement with the Trudeau government but they have refused to put any money into the plan the community is once again left at risk from a potentially catastrophic flood on the Albany River.”
This annual evacuation of the community of about 1900 people will likely continue until a decision to fund the relocation of the community to higher ground is completed.
