Maureen Wood and a group from the Island Lake First Nations travel more than 3,000 kilometers on foot to Ottawa

Earlier this spring Maureen Wood began walking from St. Theresa Point to Winnipeg to draw attention to the meth crisis in her community. Last summer (2017) when more than 6,000 people were evacuated from the Island Lakes area because of forest fires, drug dealers gave free samples of meth to some of the evacuees and so the meth crisis began. Maureen Wood picked up additional walkers in Garden Hill and Wasagamack and by the time she left the Island Lakes area there were a group of about 40 walkers. They travelled the winter road, came through Norway House and reached Winnipeg more than 1,000 kilometers later. In Winnipeg they met with Liberal, NDP and Conservative MLAs and the Health Minister to bring awareness of the meth crisis and to ask for help. Judy Klassen, Liberal MLA for Kewatinook, asked the Health Minister for support in Question Period.

But they did not stop there. They continued their walk all the way to Ottawa, overcoming numerous challenges along the way. Now, they have arrived in Ottawa and are meeting with Members of Parliament and with Minister Jane Philpott. Much thanks are due to Judy Klassen who has been a big support all along the way.

For more on this story click on this link.

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Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March. South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory. The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions. This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14. Manitoba ( red line ) started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then. South Dakota ( blue line ) has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4. Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.

There is an imperative to have a provincial plan to ensure every child learns to read

Too many Manitoba children with learning disabilities like dyslexia are not being identified and helped early on starting in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is the provinces responsibility to ensure that every child learns to read, and even when, in the case of a child with dyslexia intensive intervention is needed. In 12 years Manitoba has failed to produce a provincial plan to address this issue. We are holding a Forum (see below) on this subject. Please come out to the Forum. There is no cost. Everyone is welcome. To learn more about the need to do better helping children, youth and adults with a learning disability click on this link

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