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Attawapiskat Receives First Modular Home

Attawapiskat

First Posted: 02/12/2012 9:21 am Updated: 02/14/2012 7:27 am

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The first of 22 modular homes promised by the federal government to Attawapiskat has arrived to the remote northern Ontario First Nations community, the Aboriginal Affairs minister's office confirmed Sunday.


The home, much needed in the community which is facing a housing crisis amid winter temperatures, arrived at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan's office told CBC News. It is waiting to be inspected before being handed over to the Attawapiskat band and council.


The second modular home is en route, but heavy traffic on the ice road on Saturday has delayed its journey, the minister's office added.


Site preparation stalled: Angus


The modular home arrives in Attawapiskat amid questions over the readiness of the designated lots to receive them.


The MP who first sounded the alarm on Attawapiskat's housing troubles said on Saturday the community is not ready to install them because site preparations have been stalled by the government-imposed third-party manager.


NDP MP Charlie Angus, whose riding includes Attawapiskat, said in a telephone interview with CBC News that the money needed to get the construction work underway is being "choked off" by the third-party manager.


According to Angus, a technical team and service crews have been on the ground for over three weeks but the government has "handcuffed' the council by "refusing to put up any of the funds."


Ottawa offers 'additional capacity'


Duncan refuted this on Saturday, and expressed concern over the readiness of the lots.


He said he has communicated directly with the chief and council in Attawapiskat and offered them "additional capacity" to expedite the work and ensure maximum use of the winter road.


"Our government has allocated the necessary funds for this work and the third party manager has advised that he will ensure all related invoices are paid from these funds," Duncan said.


He urged for "all efforts to prepare the remaining 20 sites occur as quickly as possible."


The minister's office said Sunday it was working to confirm the state of readiness of the lots for the modular homes.


The 22 modular homes were shipped to Moosonee, Ont., in December, where they have been waiting for the ice road to be ready for heavier traffic. They are meant to be a more permanent housing solution for the two dozen families living in tent frames and shacks.


A healing lodge in the community was converted as a temporary housing measure and the Canadian Red Cross assisted with emergency aid.


The federal government purchased the homes after the Attawapiskat First Nation declared a state of emergency last fall.


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The first of 22 modular homes promised by the federal government to Attawapiskat has arrived to the remote northern Ontario First Nations community, the Aboriginal Affairs minister's offi...
The first of 22 modular homes promised by the federal government to Attawapiskat has arrived to the remote northern Ontario First Nations community, the Aboriginal Affairs minister's offi...
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Drexels55
19 Fans
02:12 PM on 02/13/2012
time to buy stocks in plastic blue tarps
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Warren Yuill
Jesus Built My Hot-Rod
209 Fans
07:24 AM on 02/13/2012
Where are they gonna connect the sewer and water and power?
Its not gonna happen.
Not till spring.
Might as well accept that.
If you want it done right....you gotta do it right.
Spend the winter getting everything you need sorted out and then go hard when the weather allows.
Its like construction everywhere else.
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gravescanada
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09:21 AM on 02/14/2012
If the idiot Chief had allowed the third party manager in at the beginning, all the water, sewer and power would be waiting to be hooked up. It can still be done, its hard but not impossible. Salamander heaters, enclosed working areas, we can build in the winter but until the Chief of this band steps down, nothing will be accomplished. Has she opened up her home for people to live in?
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Warren Yuill
Jesus Built My Hot-Rod
209 Fans
02:04 PM on 02/14/2012
Not up there dude
Down here we see frost penetration around 2 feet in southern Ont. Around 4 feet in a place like Fort Mac. Up there it's permafrost. In the height of summer only a few feet of surface dirt thaws out.After that its deep deep frozen ground. It makes excavation very costly even in the best of conditions. Almost impossible in mid winter.
Imagine trying to operate a back-hoe and dig through 10 feet of frozen rubber.
I can appreciate the" lets get something done" sentiment though.
Cheers
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Natland
0 Fans
03:38 AM on 02/13/2012
What about the rest of the native through out of Canada?? Don't they need a break too? Not just housing.. But young family should receive land?
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north of 60
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
151 Fans
04:52 AM on 02/13/2012
Heck yeah!! Free everything for everybody. Where do I sign up?
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Add In Canadia
Egotism is a weakness
411 Fans
02:23 AM on 02/13/2012
"The preparation of the sites are the responsibility of the community and a consultant - known as the third-party manager - was appointed by the federal government after the Federal Court called the situation in Attawapiskat ``a serious and unprecedented housing crisis.''

Ever since the appointment in December, the band has banned the manager, Jacques Marion, from entering the community."

Well that's the band's prerogative, but I wager people are going to place the blame on the Conservatives and Harper regardless.
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north of 60
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
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04:58 AM on 02/13/2012
Of course they will. There is a "Blame Harper for Everything" faction in Canada that just can't get over the last election. They will take any news story and twist it into their "Blame-Harper" agenda. There will always be people who can't grasp the concept of personal responsibility, so they always need someone to blame for every misfortune in their miserable lives. The PM gets to be the flack-catcher, it comes with the job.
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Expletive Deleted Ca
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08:39 AM on 02/13/2012
Well the PM is forcing through the Senate ( who he choose ) his omnibus crime bill that allows law enforcement to monitor in real-time a person internet activities without a court ordered warrant.

So quite frankly, there isn't enough people in Canada blaming Harper for what he is actually responsible for, and that my friend, is a great deal.
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Expletive Deleted Ca
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11:45 PM on 02/12/2012
I've posted this on articles relating to this before, but since the media seems to be reporting this unfairly, i'll say it again.

The third-party manager has been refused access to the community by the Chief.

The third-party manager is responsible for paying costs associated with getting the lots ready. In order to do this, the Chief must submit invoices to him.

The Chief wants to control money herself, so she is refusing. She wants the money in hand, saying no one will work until they get paid, which is a lie, because the majority of contractors don't get paid until after the work is done.

I support the use of the third-party manager, because while the Chief was pulling down six figures from tax-payers like myself, her community was in shambles and people were living in shacks. If they give her the money and tell her to get the lots ready, what do you think will be the end result based on the track record to date?
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ejais
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03:25 PM on 02/13/2012
A) his wage is paid out of the band level monies meaning that of course the chief wants to control the money because having to pay this guy its taking away from what is needed on the FN.

B)The paperwork that is needed for anything doubles with TPM being involved making it hard for decisions to be made swiftly and economically.

C)The TPM was allowed access since January and in that time he had plenty of time to set up efficient quick procedures to ensure things were ready when the first house was sent. The courts ruled in the govt favor and thus he was allowed access as soon as the judgement was passed. Until then he had plenty of opportunity to get his "ducks lined up"

D) You are giving your support to a system under the impression that the person who is hired is honorable. I do know of one TPM who literally helped a corrupted chief and council to embezzle money from at least two reserves. The judge allowed him leniency due to his failing health. The chiefs and council members are still awaiting for their time in court. Meanwhile the new chief and council have to deal with a FN which is heavily in debt and the people struggling.
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Expletive Deleted Ca
34 Fans
 
06:51 PM on 02/13/2012
A) His wages are well within acceptable norms, and if the Chief had done her job correctly in the first place, they wouldn't need a TPM in there to handle a situation she should of in fact handled herself.

B) This is completely conjecture. If the contractor wants paid, The TPM pays them. Xeroxing two copies of an invoice isn't lengthening the process or making it slower or less economical.

C) The ice roads have been closed, and they have been waiting on them to open in order to start sending the modular homes. It is the Chief's responsibility to get the sits in order and pass off the invoices to the TPM. Something she has not done, because she is claiming she needs funds in order to get the sites set up, which is again, a LIE because 99% of contractors get paid after the work is done to ensure they meet their contract requirements.

D) A number of Chief's are corrupt. 50 Chiefs a cross Canada earn more money than the Prime Minister does while being responsible for communities of 2000 people or less. I'd much rather have the money being handled by a TPM than a band chief who has caused the problem in the first place. A TPM is only used in the most dire of circumstances, and that should show just what a poor job this Chief has done, meanwhile she's pocketing my tax money.
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ejais
41 Fans
03:34 PM on 02/13/2012
I personally believe there has to be a better and more cost effective way for the govt to help these FN then putting them more in debt. Maybe they could have a more influence on the FN policy regarding the eligiblity of the people who run for office. A clean record,a solid background and of course education could be some of the things mandatory for a person to hold office and of course enforced. I pray that this TPM is aware that he is going to be in the center of attention and really is able to help this FN out of its situation. As for the current chief and council well they got their attention they were seeking for their situation and only a person of low intelligence would put a cry for help out and expect no questions to be asked etc.
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Expletive Deleted Ca
34 Fans
 
06:36 PM on 02/13/2012
First Nation's are notorious for claiming they don't receive enough money. It's always been a ploy to get even more money from the Federal government. I am well aware there have been many people who have come out in support of them. However the fact is most First Nation's members don't help themselves. I point this out very clearly in a blog article I wrote some time ago.

http://expletive-deleted.ca/social/money-canadian-indian-reservations-answer/
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chuck nathaniel
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09:38 PM on 02/12/2012
*Harper
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chuck nathaniel
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09:38 PM on 02/12/2012
How long will these last until the government has to buy more homes?

This hardly seems like a sustainable solution in terms of log-term viability for the community.

People enjoy blaming just Hare, but what have YOU done?
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north of 60
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
151 Fans
05:28 PM on 02/12/2012
On far too many reserves the Chief and Council and their relatives live like kings on the taxpayer's dime while everyone else lives in 3rd world poverty. Notice how the leftist media never show pictures of the Chief's house or the Cadillac SUV she drives.
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Drexels55
19 Fans
04:26 PM on 02/12/2012
new home destroyed in 3, 2, 1...
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MsCanuck
Wife, Mother, New Democrat, Pro-Choice, Atheist
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04:30 PM on 02/12/2012
They need a before picture.
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All Seeing Guy
Center of the storm
440 Fans
06:58 PM on 02/12/2012
At the very least the siding has probably been stripped....
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dread
112 Fans
03:33 PM on 02/12/2012
But the lot is not ready to put the trailer on. I guess all of the able bodied men up there are playing hockey.
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ejais
41 Fans
06:18 PM on 02/12/2012
apparently you do not read well. I break it down. They can not do ANYTHING unless the TPM releases money for the prep work to be done.
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chuck nathaniel
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09:40 PM on 02/12/2012
apparently you missed the part of the article where that unsubstantiated claims was disputed.
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dread
112 Fans
09:50 PM on 02/12/2012
If someone was bringing me a brand new house for free I damn well would have a spot fixed to put it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Good to know
39 Fans
02:28 PM on 02/12/2012
Breaking News!!!! One trailer has arrived after months of emergency housing crisis. Oh, Canada.
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