Question Period Note: ISC National Air Transportation Services Initiative

• We are committed to ensuring remote and isolated communities have access to essential health care providers, medical supplies and equipment they need during this time of crisis.

• Commercial flights are currently reduced and nurses have limited options to get into these communities.

• As of May 11, 237 essential health care providers have travelled aboard 47 air charters into and out of northern remote communities in Ontario and Manitoba.

• We will continue to work with partners to provide these flight services until they are no longer required.

Background

The ongoing delivery of essential services and supplies to remote First Nations communities in provinces in an environment where travel is limited is particularly challenging but critical to Canada’s overall response to COVID-19. To minimize the risk and exposure of community members and service providers to the virus, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has been transporting essential service personnel and supplies via carefully managed charter flights with strict health safety measures in place. The charter flights are often on airlines that already serve these communities.
The charter flights allow nursing and other personnel to board at terminals where strict health and safety procedures are being enforced. This is not easily done at major airport terminals that serve the bulk of commercial flights. In addition, nursing and other professionals utilizing these charters are required to practice mandatory two-week at-home self-isolation prior to travelling to communities and have to self-screen their health status. Longer (minimum four-week) rotations into communities have been implemented to minimize changes in staff and protect health and safety of community members.
The first flights were carried out on April 22nd, April 27th and May 6th. Subsequent flights are scheduled for May 20, June 3, and June 17 to all fly-in communities. Flights will then continue every four weeks until no longer necessary. Other flights could be organized to support bringing cargo or other critical personnel to, for example, maintain or fix critical infrastructure.

If pressed further
• The Government of Canada is committed to leaving no Indigenous community behind.
• Ensuring the continuity of services within communities, while minimizing the risk of transmission, is critical to support them in preparing for and responding to COVID-19.
• This approach ensures that communities will be able to access medical supplies, equipment and health professionals.
• This initiative can support needs such as food security or medivac services as required, and represents an opportunity to support the economic long-term viability of communities.