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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 10

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 3, 2021 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 10 - Dec/3/21
Ms. Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, NDP)
  • Dec/3/21 11:05:02 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, the climate emergency is here. Indigenous and northern communities are already paying the price. Eighteen first nations and northern communities in our region depend on the ice roads for survival. For a few weeks a year, thousands of indigenous peoples depend on temporary ice roads we call winter roads to bring in fuel, building supplies, water trucks, equipment, bulk food, what they need to survive. These first nations have severe housing crises and a shockingly high cost of living. Ice roads are a lifeline, but they are disappearing. A warming and unpredictable climate means shorter seasons, and this year is even worse. Communities like the east-side first nations need all-weather roads now. This was in the works under an NDP provincial government, but the Conservatives cancelled, and the federal Liberals could not care less. This can no longer pass. It is a matter of life and death. It is time the federal government worked with first nations to build an all-weather road system. It is time the federal government gets serious about climate change and stands with indigenous communities—
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