A northern First Nations community has been served with an injunction by Manitoba Hydro, after its members put a blockade in place to prevent traffic to the Keeyask construction site.

 

The provincial Court of Queen’s Bench issued an injunction to Tataskweyak Cree Nation on Monday to immediately remove their blockade of Provincial Road 2-80.

 

MKO stated in a news release that Tataskweyak entered a lockdown Friday afternoon, after its members expressed concerns about the scheduled shift change that took place at Keeyask yesterday, which saw around twelve hundred new employees at the site from across Canada and the United States.

 

Tataskweyak Chief Doreen Spence says Manitoba Hydro is not abiding by the provincial public health orders when it comes to the operations at Keeyask, and is worried that bringing new people to the site may cause COVID-19 to spread in the community.

 

Manitoba Hydro’s Director of Corporate Communications Scott Powell defends the injunction, saying that it proves the plan Hydro has to safely resume work rotations protects workers and communities from COVID-19.

 

He goes on to say the plan -quote- “goes above and beyond” the latest guidelines, and was approved by Manitoba’s chief public health officer.