August 7th, 2018

NDP’s Mamakwa demands health care funding for northern First Nations communities

During question period on Tuesday, Sol Mamakwa, Kiiwetinoong NDP MPP, called on the Ford government to provide health care funding for northern First Nations communities facing a severe shortage of medical resources, safe health care infrastructure, and medical professionals.

“First Nations communities in my riding have been denied access to adequate health care for far too long. And it has to change,” said Mamakwa. “It’s costing too many lives — and causing too many people to suffer.

“Will this government commit to fully funding the First Nations Health Transformation? Or will this government renege on that commitment – and force people in our communities to continue to suffer?”

Mamakwa told the legislature that in the community of Sandy Lake, the nursing station model is not working anymore to serve more than 3,000 people, and local residents are trying to fill the gaps because there aren’t enough medical professionals. Tragedies are occurring because of a lack of access to basic health care.

“The needs of our people cannot be ignored any longer,” said Mamakwa. “In Sandy Lake, Pikangikum, and other remote communities, little children like 5-year-old Brody Meekis have died of strep throat infections, that would have been cured anywhere else,” said Mamakwa.

“And every single day, I hear from families who cannot get the urgent health care they need.

“Will this government guarantee that every dollar that’s been committed to First Nations health care, will be delivered to our communities?”