'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
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.