Cumberland House has been running low on groceries and supplies all week due to the state of the only highway leading into the community.
Now, after recent rains effectively washed out the road, leaders in the northeast Saskatchewan community have declared a state of emergency.
“The deplorable and deteriorating conditions of Highway 123 put the health and well-being of our community members in jeopardy. With the support of Cumberland Cree Nation and Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Eastern Region I, we are declaring a state of emergency in our region,” Cumberland House Mayor Ferlin McKay said in a news release on Friday.
“Essential things like milk, bread, baby formula and prescription medications are dwindling.”
The community is already running low on groceries and supplies, and could remain isolated for another week due to the forecast rains.
Highway 123 is the only access road for the transportation of food, mail and fuel, as well as for emergency services that need to transport people out of the community.
Community leaders called on the provincial and federal governments to take “immediate action” to help them.
‘Priority’ for conversation, says Moe
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Highways has said it is spending $3.3 million on repairs to Highway 123 this summer, but Premier Scott Moe signalled on Thursday that more funding could be on the way.
“In the case of Cumberland, which is not the only community, but it’s the only access in and out, and so most certainly is a priority for conversation in the Ministry of Highways,” Moe said.
Moe added that future financial investment in Highway 123 will likely be “more and not less.”
“We’ll work with the community on any immediate challenges that they have and also work with the community on what the investment looks like for that road in the future.”
$3.3 million is not enough: resident
Renee Carriere, a business owner and an educator in Cumberland House, said $3.3 million is not nearly enough, as that will only take care of the first three kilometres.
Carriere said there is no cell service on the highway, so if there were any emergencies or evacuations while the road is in this state, it would be utter chaos.
“I’m ashamed of the government … I challenged him to come here,” she said. “Have Mr. Scott Moe drive that highway.… Have him do it in the dark.”
She said only that would inform government leaders of the community’s true plight.
“We shouldn’t have to be begging for a good road.”
