Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My question is directed to Chief Bellegarde and Vice-President Chartrand.
In a CBC article that was published on May 6 about the COVID crisis in La Loche, National Chief Bellegarde noted that first nations are more vulnerable because of overcrowded living conditions and lack of hospital access. Dr. Tam also shared these concerns stating, “People are taking it extremely seriously because these are more vulnerable situations”.
La Loche has a population of approximately 2,400 and currently has 111 reported cases of COVID-19. We heard yesterday that in La Loche, Saskatchewan, there now remains only one grocery store to serve a regional population of 6,000, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 in one of the two regional grocery stores.
I spoke with a community member in La Loche today and she indicated the growing concern in the community—