Members of Parliament from from northern Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan were in Flin Flon last week seeking input on various issues affecting the area’s residents.
Churchill-Keewatinook Aski MP Niki Ashton and Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River MP Georgina Jolibois attended an open house with the public at the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre. The meeting was the first joint appearance by the New Democratic Party members since Jolibois’ election in 2015.
Close to mind for both Ashton and Jolibois were ongoing issues with the region’s mining industry and the continued discussion around last fall’s suspension of birth services in Flin Flon. Both MPs met with Flin Flon-based unions and with the “We Want Birth” committee, a group consisting mostly of young mothers concerned with the obstetric suspension.
After meeting with union members, Ashton said the news shared was grim. Union members expected drastic layoffs ahead of Hudbay’s anticipated 2021 ending of most or all Flin Flon operations.
“We heard from them how critical it is to protect the jobs in the community and to fight for Flin Flon. That’s been something that’s been important to me from the get-go. I come from a mining town in Thompson where we’ve just been through a very difficult year. It’s a very difficult time in our community and it’s a difficult time in our north. I’m here to touch base, to hear from people and to bring the messages back to Parliament,” she said.
“We need the federal government at the table. Flin Flon has given a lot to Canada. It’s time for Canada to give back.”
Jolibois mentioned recent layoffs by uranium corporation Cameco have made job losses a top concern.
“Many residents have already lost their jobs. There has to be a need to look at diversification of employment and opportunities. What does that look like? I’m talking about other, full-time opportunities where residents can live in the region and can support their families. That’s what we’d like to see, along with government support of that,” she said.
“We need to, in the discussions about keeping good jobs here and ensuring that Hudbay doesn’t go out and leave the community in the lurch, that the federal government is at the table, both holding Hudbay to account and ensuring that there’s support for people working here. If there are job losses, then talking about transition, diversification, meaningful work. Not temporary, precarious work, but family-sustaining work,” added Ashton.
Future
Despite the negative news, each shared stories of hope and positivity from their ridings.
Jolibois mentioned the ongoing peacekeeper and community safety officer training program in Pelican Narrows, which trains locals to assist RCMP in community relations and some enforcement.
“The community safety officers can work with these youth and provide them opportunities and advise them to stay in school and change their way,” she said, adding that elders in the community have endorsed the program.
“Many of the elders speak Cree and many times, they need a translation because the officers don’t always speak Cree. Culturally, it’s helping.”
Jolibois also voiced support for individual success stories from Saskatchewan, especially young students from small remote communities.
“I’m really encouraged. I’ve met so many young indigenous people, and out of the young people who have graduated from these programs, they’re doing really well. We have a huge group from northern Saskatchewan who are electricians, construction workers, lawyers, police officers. Some are going to university. They are becoming engineers. There are so many. I’m so encouraged by them,” she said.
Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan have some of the lowest average ages of any Canadian region. With that in mind, Ashton said she also sees positives in youth engagement.
“This is one of the youngest regions in the country. With young people comes hope. There’s energy. There’s a desire to make a better future for themselves, for their families, and I believe we all stand to benefit from that,” said Ashton. “I always come at this work saying that it’s critical to achieve justice, but for anyone to this kind of work and represent your community, it comes from a place of hope that things can get better.”
Ashton has also been buoyed by the success of restoring rail service to Churchill and the sale of the line and port to a consortium that includes two northern Manitoba-based groups.
“We worked with people in Churchill on that and people from across the north are involved. The advocacy, speaking out on behalf of our region, paid off,” she said.
“There is so much potential in that port, in that rail line, that will reverberate for all of our communities.”
Ashton was also encouraged with the attitude of locals she met during the visit, saying that Flin Flonners were still willing to fight to save their jobs.
“I do [think it’s time to fight]. In my discussions with people who work with Hudbay, it was clear that they’re willing to fight for their jobs,” she said. “They are calling on all representatives; municipal, provincial, federal; to be on their side. That desire is there, the belief is there, that we need to work together and we need to fight for everything. It’s not just fighting for jobs. It’s fighting for Flin Flon. That’s really what the fight is about.”
