The Pimicikamak Cree Nation, under the leadership of Chief David Monias, has reached out to Prime Minister Mark Carney, requesting the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces to address a severe power outage crisis in Cross Lake, Manitoba. This urgent call for military assistance comes in light of a rapidly deteriorating public health and safety situation as hundreds of homes continue to be without power or heat.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on New Year’s Eve, Chief Monias expressed grave concerns for the welfare of vulnerable community members, stating, “Elders, infants, children, and medically vulnerable citizens are at immediate risk.” He emphasized that the local and regional resources have been overwhelmed, necessitating immediate military intervention to safeguard the health and safety of residents.
The crisis was exacerbated when the Pimicikamak Cree Nation declared a state of emergency on the previous Monday following widespread outages affecting approximately 1,300 customers. The power outage began late Sunday night when a supply line crossing the Nelson River was compromised, leading to a significant disruption in the community’s electricity supply.
Evacuations were initiated in response to the ongoing crisis; however, local hotels quickly reached their capacity, leaving many families without adequate shelter. Despite the involvement of multiple agencies, including Indigenous Services Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, Chief Monias noted that the scale and severity of the situation far exceed the capabilities of regional authorities to manage effectively.
Furthermore, Manitoba Hydro initially projected that power would be restored by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, only to later revise this estimate to 6 p.m. on Thursday. The community continues to face significant challenges, with Monias indicating that even after power is restored, there are potential flooding risks due to burst pipes, which could further displace families in the area.
The ongoing power crisis in Cross Lake has raised pressing concerns regarding the health and safety of the community, prompting Chief Monias to escalate the situation by seeking federal assistance. The Pimicikamak Cree Nation's plea underscores the urgent need for support in addressing not only the immediate electrical outages but also the potential secondary disasters that may arise from the current circumstances.
