Representatives of Chambers of Commerce from the North West Side of the province met with Health and Government officials to discuss the current restrictions placed on businesses in the north.

The President and Vice President of The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce, along with The Co-Presidents of The Flin Flon Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Snow Lake Chamber of Commerce and Chuck Davidson, President & CEO Manitoba Chambers of Commerce met with Dr. Jazz Atwal, Acting Deputy Chief Provincial Public Health Officer for Manitoba, Michelle Dubik, Acting Deputy Minister Indigenous and Northern Relations, Tracey Machonachie, Deputy Minister of Manitoba Economic Development and Jobs, and Michelle Wallace, Assistant Deputy Minister Manitoba Economic Development and Jobs.

The Chambers feel that the northern community is too large to be treated as a single entity. It was the Chambers’ request that the province consider adjusting the Northern Regional Health Region into North-Eastern and North-Western zones, using Highway 6 as the dividing line. This would be for the purpose of the COVID restrictions only. The Chambers feel that Covid cases in communities 400 to 800kilometresawayhave little bearing and impact on people in the north west zone.

This results in a low chance for transmission of Covid-19.“Our residents feel that lifting of restrictions in the southern part of the province, is unfair as the North is following protocol, and case numbers are the lowest they have been since the fall of 2020. Residents have followed the guidelines listed by Manitoba Health, and have been staying their communities,” stated Jill Wilkinson, The Pas and District Chamber of Commerce President. The Chambers feel that failure to lift the restrictions will cause people to travel outside their communities for shopping and other services, thereby increasing the chances of spreading the virus.

“We feel that the meeting was successful, and our request will be reviewed by the province in the near future. We hope to have a positive response from the Government of Manitoba,” said Alan McLauchlan, Vice President of The Pas and District Chamber of Commerce. Until that time, please follow the Code Red restriction regulations. Please refrain from leaving the community. We need to keep our numbers low, so that our businesses can re-open