Adapted transport services on the way

This summer, Quebec finally agreed that elders and disabled people deserve access to transportation — after KRG president Johnny Adams threatened to fly a group of old, infirm Nunavimmiut to Quebec City for a protest in front of Quebec’s National Assembly building.

The KRG’s transport department will distribute $7,500 this year and $10,000 next year to all 14 northern villages. More money is available from a $566,000 fund, depending on the number of people in need in each community.

Health boards of the Hudson and Ungava Bay coasts must supply the numbers of disabled residents.

But despite repeated calls and messages, the director of KRG’s transport department, Jack Pappak, told regional councilors that the Inuulitsivik health board, which should have statistics for the Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait, hasn’t responded to his repeated requests for information.

Until Inuulitsivik provides this information, money to provide adapted transport service can’t be sent to the communities.

“I’ve just about given up,” Pappak told the KRG councilors.