As fly-in court hearings resume in northwestern Ontario First Nations after a lengthy pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an organization that promotes community-based justice is hoping to provoke a larger discussion about justice on reserves.
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A surge of COVID-19 infections in Northern Ontario’s Thunder Bay district fuelled by outbreaks at local correctional facilities has resulted in more confirmed cases so far this year than last year, prompting the regional hospital to expand its COVID unit in preparation for a worsening crisis.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre confirmed 18 COVID-19 patients are in hospital, including seven people in the ICU, forcing it to add another eight beds to its COVID-19 unit.
There are 273 active cases in the district, including 178 reported since Friday.
Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit says its staff is maxed out with an influx of inquiries from parents after 11 school outbreaks in the past two weeks, including six schools since Friday.
Thunder Bay grapples with COVID-19 outbreaks in correctional facilities, homeless population Bookmark Please log in to listen to this story. Also available in French and Mandarin. Log In Create Free Account
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David Jackson/The Globe and Mail
A surge of COVID-19 infections in Northern Ontario’s Thunder Bay district fuelled by outbreaks at local correctional facilities has resulted in more confirmed cases so far this year than last year, prompting the regional hospital to expand its COVID unit in preparation for a worsening crisis.
Pikangikum gets a facility to house local residents on bail
A bail bed and transition home will also provide healing services for community members.
Feb 17, 2021 9:37 AM By: TbNewsWatch.com Staff
Pikangikum First Nation is located about 90 kilometres north of Red Lake, Ontario
PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION, Ont. A new, first-of-its-kind transition home means that residents of Pikangikum First Nation no longer have to travel to Kenora for a bail hearing.
According to a news release Tuesday from Indigenous Services Canada, the Kii-we-yan Bail Bed and Transition Home will provide temporary shelter and healing services for Pikangikum members, including those on bail or serving intermittent sentences.