'It's a mistake': AMC Grand Chief expresses concerns over reopening plan, fourth wave
The Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is expressing his concerns over the province’s latest reopening plan, saying, ‘It’s a mistake.’
“We tried our best to make informed decisions based on our statistical information, we’ve collaborated with our allies within the provincial health system to try and assist with rolling out vaccines,” said Grand Chief Arlen Dumas.
“We’ve been in lockstep with many of our colleagues and unfortunately this announcement that the premier and his government have made has actually been without consultation with our experts. I’m quite alarmed.”
On Wednesday, federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said he is concerned about provinces lifting COVID-19 restrictions, as it could lead to a fourth wave among Indigenous people driven by the Delta variant.
Miller’s comments came the day after Manitoba announced its latest reopening plan, which is set to take effect on Saturday. The plan includes lifting the mask mandate and allowing some businesses to fully reopen, including gyms, hair and nail salons, and retail businesses.
Dumas recognized that the pandemic has been a tough time, and that he is looking forward to being able to go out without restrictions. However, he acknowledged that even though he is fully vaccinated, not everyone else is.
“There’s still no vaccine for our children,” he said.
“It’s great that all the adults have a bit of a buffer, a bit of a bubble so we can all try and get back to normal life. But school is starting in a month and I’m not too sure that we’ve done whatever we can to make schools as safe as possible for our children.”
VACCINATION RATES
According to the latest provincial data, 61.7 per cent of eligible First Nations people who live on reserves have been fully immunized, while 46.2 per cent of the eligible off-reserve population has received both doses.
Dumas said he commends the leadership for taking proactive measures, but acknowledged the, “systemic issues that exist within the health-care system.”
“We had an opportunity to try to highlight these things and provide solutions so we could move forward,” he said.
“We were able to do that with great skill on-reserve, but unfortunately off-reserve, we don’t have the same authority or same effect on off-reserve issues.
Dumas added that their leadership has been advocating for everyone to get vaccinated.
- With files from CTV’s Renee Rodgers and The Canadian Press’ Kelly Geraldine Malone.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Election deniers: West Virginia voters must pick from GOP candidates who still dispute 2020 election
When West Virginia Republicans vote in Tuesday's primary, they will have a hard time finding a major candidate on the ballot in any statewide race who openly acknowledges that U.S. President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
An apartment block collapses in a Russian border city after heavy shelling, injuring over a dozen
An apartment block partially collapsed in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Sunday, leaving at least 19 injured. Officials blamed Ukrainian shelling and said there were also likely deaths.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.