Question Period Note: Surge supports for Northern Saskatchewan

• The Department received the $10M proposal from the Saskatchewan North West Communities Incident Command Centre.

• My department is working closely with First Nations in Saskatchewan to meet community needs.

• We will address the immediate PPE needs and discuss other the elements of the funding proposal with communities and provincial officials on an urgent basis.

N/A

Outbreak in La Loche, Saskatchewan
• My Department is working closely with Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA) and the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) on COVID-19 response efforts in the North of Saskatchewan.
• The Saskatchewan Health Authority has requested ISC’s assistance for surge capacity and enhanced testing in neighboring First Nations that have mobility to and from La Loche. The Saskatchewan Health Authority has deployed 60 nurses on May 2, 2020, of which four are from ISC.
• ISC funded over $5.3M to date in requests by the two communities.
• My Department continues to be in frequent contact with leadership of the affected communities in close proximity to La Loche, as well as all leadership in North West Saskatchewan.

If pressed on PPE in La Loche, Saskatchewan
• We are providing additional support for health resources for both First Nations communities, including nursing surge capacity. Ths will enhance efforts relating to medical supplies, food security, isolation, security services, access to PPE and cleaning supplies, Elder supports, and mental health supports.
• The Meadow Lake Tribal Council and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations have deployed PPE to the impacted communities.
• NITHA received a PPE shipment from the Province of Saskatchewan on April 24. The Government of Canada has also shipped 25,000 surgical masks and gloves to La Loche.

COVID-related death of an elder in La Loche, Saskatchewan
• The Government of Canada expresses our deepest sympathies to the family and everyone affected in the community.
• La Loche neighbours the Clearwater River Dene Nation and officials have been in regular contact. There are daily meetings of the Northwest Incident Command Centre.
• Clearwater River Dene Nation has a pandemic plan which we are supporting them to implement.
• The health and safety of the community is our top priority.
• The health and safety of the community is a top priority and to respect the privacy of those who are sick with COVID-19, we will not be commenting on the specifics of the case.
• The government of Saskatchewan provides primary health care services in the community of La Loche and my department will continue to work with all parties, including the Meadow Lake Tribal Council and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority.