The AFNQL is Asking Minister Barrette to Intervene for Ambulances Services in Manawan

WENDAKE, QC, Sept. 21, 2016  – Aside from a meeting on First Nations Policing Services currently taking place currently in Montreal, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) requests that the Minister of Health and Social Services, Gaétan Barrette, respond to Chief Jean-Roch Ottawa’s demand for the Atikamekw community of Manawan to have ambulance services for emergency situations.

The community of Manawan, located 86 km from St–Michel-des-Saints in the Lanaudière Region, is accessible only by a forest road. To date, the community was never granted ambulance services despite recent requests made by their leaders. Representatives of the community of Manawan were categorically refused ambulance services from administrative officials of the Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec (MSSSQ). This refusal is troubling and raises serious doubts about the responsibility of the Ministry with respect to risks to the health and safety of the 2,500 or so community residents.

“To date, the Atikamekw leaders of Manawan were stonewalled, this is totally unacceptable. The refusal of Chief Ottawa’s demand from MSSSQ authorities is an obvious case of indifference about the fate of a population left to itself”, says the Chief of the AFNQL Ghislain Picard. “It is time for Minister Barrette be informed of this matter to put some seriousness in the futile exchanges that the community of Manawan has had until now”, said Chief Picard.

About the AFNQL
The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the political organization regrouping 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador. www.apnql-afnql.com.

For further information: Mélanie Vincent : vincentmelaniemv@gmail.com, Cell. : 418 580-4442

RELATED LINKS
www.apnql-afnql.com

NT5