KENORA – POLITICS – As I continue my summer tour throughout the riding, I’m looking forward to visiting some of the fly-in First Nations communities up north. With a riding the size of France, I believe it’s absolutely necessary for the Member of Parliament to visit remote communities and hear from their residents.
During the week of August 15 to 19, I’ll visit nine different First Nations. They include Poplar Hill, North Caribou Lake, Muskrat Dam, Deer Lake, Cat Lake, Sandy Lake, Fort Severn, Bearskin Lake and Big Trout.
Some of our Indigenous communities face very difficult challenges because of their remoteness. For example, access to proper physical and mental health care continues to be a serious problem. Many First Nation communities are outgrowing their nursing stations and are then forced to fly to Thunder Bay or Winnipeg, which is expensive and very difficult for patients who are suffering and their loved ones. Access to healthy food that is also affordable continues to present significant challenges to residents living in remote communities.
That’s why I’m advocating for all-weather roads up north. Opening up the north would provide the residents with access to the bigger communities that lie south, like Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Kenora. Food would be able to be trucked in, significantly dropping the price that is normally tacked on because of transportation costs. It also means being able to drive to the hospitals rather than having to fly.
Not only would this benefit the people living on the First Nation communities, but also everyone living in the north. This presents a significant opportunity to increase our economy in the north and improve the quality of life for all of us living in the north.
Bob Nault MP
Kenora Riding
Image of Mr. Nault in Sandy Lake is from an earlier trip.
