Congratulations to all of our graduates of Class of 2020. This year’s academic milestone will no doubt be the most memorable graduation celebration indeed. We want to thank the teachers and staff for their leadership when our schools closed due to the pandemic. Leadership was shown throughout the closure with efforts made to ensure the health and safety of others while wrapping up a school year distantly and planning graduation ceremonies following public health orders. We also want to thank the family and friends for coming together in planning their graduates’ celebrations at home.
On June 21, Phase Three of Restoring Services is now fully implemented and there are still questions about travel into northern Manitoba. On April 23, all four northern MLAs (The Pas-Kameesak, Flin Flon, Thompson and Keewatinook) wrote a letter to the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living regarding enforcement measures for travel restrictions into northern Manitoba.
On July 3, our office received a response from the Minister’s office. The Minister’s office advised, “…against all non-essential travel both domestically (including within the province) and internationally. As well, travel to northern Manitoba (north of the 53rd parallel) and to remote communities that are not connected to the provincial highway system by a year-round all-weather road is prohibited until the current public health orders are amended.”. It also advised that people travelling to northern Manitoba and to remote communities cannot be displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
Now that summer is well underway, people are heading to provincial parks. Our office has heard some concerns over this. The Minister’s office stated that, “With respect to non-residents travelling to the north while visiting provincial parks interpretation the State of Emergency Orders differently than the Parks Branch, we have no authority to sanction the admittance of non-residents to the north or into northern provincial parks (unless they meet one of the exceptions listed in the Order).”.
The Minister’s office also advised that Manitoba Infrastructure has conducted random check stops and coordinated traffic control with Conservation Officers on Highways #10 and #6. Education pamphlets about travel restriction into the north were handed out. However, the letter stated that are is no current data on that information.
Finally, the month of June was Pride Month. Our community held The Pas Pride Parade on June 28 on a rainy day. However, the display of rainbows sure brightened up the parade and spirits. It was quite moving and inspirational to see many of our youth participating as well! Thank you to OCN JR. Onekanew mena Onuschekewak, Adrianna Sawchyn (Aurora Sacred Healing Centre) and the community for the donations for the parade to happen safely. We were also lucky to have our very own Dr. Alex Wilson as our guest speaker. Her research has highlighted the urgency to address suicide rates in LGBTTQ and two-spirit people in First Nations in Manitoba and beyond. In May of 2017, I had the honour to recognize Dr. Alex Wilson at the Manitoba Legislature for all her hard work, perseverance and dedication to LGBTTQ people and First Nations people.
As the Official Opposition, we are not expecting the government to hold session until October. Until then, all MLAs are working within their constituencies. Kininaskomitanow.
For further questions or concerns, please email me at Amanda.lathlin@yourmanitoba.ca or contact me on (204) 623-2034 or (204) 945-6979. If you have questions about COVID-19 contact Health links at (204) 788-8667 or 1-888-315-9257.
