April 6, 2020
The regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations for Ontario says First Nations leaders in the province are telling her more pandemic response money is needed immediately.
Some of the $215 million emergency funding reached remote communities Monday. It’s part of a $305 million package announced by Ottawa in March.
But RoseAnne Archibald says communities are telling her it’s not enough to re-purpose buildings or establish hospitals in First Nations.
“We need masks, we need equipment, we need cleaners, we need disinfectants. We need all the things to stop the spread and we need that money identified now,” Archibald said.
“We need it now, not tomorrow, not next week, not after breakouts are happening. Now. We need it now.”