May 9, 2016

If conditions allow, Premier Rachel Notley will be getting an on-the-ground tour of Fort McMurray today.

In making the announcement Sunday, Notley said it was important that she see the condition the community is in as she is leading the Wood Buffalo Ministerial Recovery Task Force, which was established by Cabinet on Friday.

May 6, 2016.

The wild fire that forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 people from Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation has grown to 101,000 hectares. Yesterday, officials said the fire had claimed 85,000 hectares.

Winds are expected to shift to come from the southwest today and push the fire northeast and away from the community, said Chad Morrison, senior manager with Alberta Wildfire Prevention. It is expected the fire will continue to move into the Clearwater River Valley.

May 6, 2016. The River Cree Resort and Casino, on Enoch Cree Nation, has donated $20,000 to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the emergency relief efforts in Fort McMurray and Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. In addition, River Cree Sports, which operates twin skating rinks at the River Cree complex, has donated $3,000 worth of supplies through the Jason Gregor show. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the wild fires in the Fort McMurray area,” said Robert Morin, River Cree Enterprises president and CEO.

May 6, 2016.

Evacuees from Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo can expect to get funding by the middle of next week.

Premier Rachel Notley announced today that Cabinet authorized emergency financial assistance on par with what was done for Slave Lake evacuees in 2011 and southern Alberta flood victims in 2013. Adults will receive $1,250 each and dependents will receive $500.

The Urbane Indian

The
northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat is only too familiar with
tragedy—flooding, chronic housing shortages, government disregard, flagrant
misspelling of its name. And now a frighteningly high rate of suicide and
suicide attempts amongst the youth there.

It
would be enough to break their hearts, if their hearts weren’t so strong. Next
to follow, was a barrage of

 May 5, 2016.
 
Cora Morgan is hopeful that, even though the new Cabinet under the newly-elected Progressive Conservatives does not include a children’s services ministry, the interest shown by the PCs while in opposition to improve services delivered to First Nations children will carry through.

“It’s a little concerning but hopefully there’s more to it than we know and they do have (children) as a priority,” said Morgan, who serves as Manitoba’s First Nation Child Advocate.

May 6, 2016.

The first convoy of 50 vehicles of evacuees is traveling south on Highway 63 from northern points past Fort McMurray this morning.

The Unified Command of the Emergency Operations Centre in Fort McMurray gave the go ahead early this morning and RCMP began escorting the first group of vehicles at 6 a.m. through Fort McMurray. RCMP will stay with the convoy until 20 km south of Fort McMurray. Officials are hoping to move 1,500 vehicles in this manner throughout the day.

Reaching Indigeneous youth to stop suicide focus of workshop

May 5, 2016.

The fire is still burning hot and as of yet there is no timeline for when residents will move back to Fort McMurray, but that doesn’t mean planning hasn’t already begun.

Bill Loutitt, vice-president for the McMurray Metis Local, says a private company has already approached the local about using their land to set up a temporary camp, perhaps of modulars, that could accommodate 500 people. The local owns land along Highway 63, across from the Sawridge and Super 8 hotels, both of which were destroyed by fire.