Richard Feehan, NDP Critic for Indigenous Relations, made the following statement today:

“I am extremely frustrated and disappointed that Jason Kenney failed to present a plan to help people in the Wood Buffalo region yesterday, and also accused Indigenous people of not seeking out vaccines. He must apologize for this casual smear, which Chief Allan Adam rightly calls out as ‘a lie, plain and simple.’”

“I offer my condolences to the family, friends and community of the Metis elder who recently died, and I’m extremely concerned to hear that he was repeatedly turned away from Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

“Jason Kenney is failing to protect Albertans who have lived through so much adversity in recent years. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has one of the highest rates of COVID in Canada, and Indigenous leaders are calling out for real leadership, not the ‘incompetent response’ that Jason Kenney has demonstrated up to now.”