PROGRESS ON KASHECHEWAN ACTION PLAN

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO, November 3, 2005- Progress continues in the re-establishment of the Kashechewan community. Clean water is now available, medical assessments to date show no illness related to E-coli and first shipment of building materials will soon be on its way from Timmins to the community.

Below is an outline of measures taken by the Government of Canada to date in moving forward with its Action Plan announced on October 27th.

Water

• Clean water is now available in the community and a stockpile of clean water is being stored in the community. A military water purification system has produced 300,000 litres of safe, clean drinking water in Kashechewan.
  
  
• Certified water treatment plant operators remain in the community to stabilize plant operations.
  
  
• A detailed study of the community’s water treatment system is being completed and a final report will be submitted to INAC and the Kashechewan community on November 10, 2005.
  
  
• Recent test results of water samples show no E-coli, no total coliform bacteria and maximum chlorine levels that fall within provincial standards. This means the plant is producing safe water.
  
  
• The necessary repairs and upgrades of the water and wastewater systems will continue until the plant is fully functional.
  
  
• The Boil Water Advisory will remain until the water treatment plant is capable of producing a continuous supply of clean water.

Health Services

• Arrangements have been made for three physicians to arrive on site in Kashechewan on November 4th to perform health assessments on remaining community members.
  
  
• A physician will be dispatched to Attawapiskat on Monday, November 7 to complete health assessments on the 43 evacuated residents. He will then travel to Timmins and Moosonee next week to provide health assessments to evacuees in those communities.
  
  
• So far approximately 700 assessments have been completed. These assessments have found no E-coli related illnesses.
  
  
• As of November 2, 2005, 946 residents have been evacuated to the following centres:
  - Ottawa (245)
  - Sudbury (251)
  - Cochrane (206)
  - Timmins (50)
  - Attawapiskat (43)
  - Sault Ste. Marie (93)
  - Peterborough (38)
  - Moosonee (20)
  
  
• An additional 24 evacuees are expected to arrive in Peterborough today with other flights available as needed. Weather may prevent further evacuations for at least 48 hours.

Housing

• Arrangements have been made to get building materials shipped to Kashechewan the week of November 7th. The first shipment will be enough to renovate 35 homes. The Mushkeegowuk Tribal Council will manage the renovation project.

Schooling

• A complete assessment of the building and its systems will be completed in the next few days.

Return to the Community

• The levels of government are presently negotiating the conditions for a return to the community.

For further information, please contact:

Campbell Morrison
Press Secretary
Minister Andy Scott's Office
INAC
(819) 997-0002