Nunavik-Quebec meeting offers leaders a chance to air their needs

After a recent meeting with Nunavik and James Bay Cree officials by video conference, Quebec Premier François Legault said he understood the needs of Nunavik and would work with the Nunavik health board to meet those needs, a news release from the health board said.

“It was a good opportunity for the Nunavik health sector to share the challenges we faced during the COVID-19 outbreaks in our region, our continued efforts to keep Nunavik safe and our concerns for preparedness in the event of an emergency if we are hit with a second wave,” said Minnie Grey, the executive director of the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, in the Aug. 20 release.

The meeting last Friday, which was closed to media, focused on the current situation in Nunavik and in the James Bay Cree area.

Nunavik has declared 17 positive cases of COVID-19, in three communities, but all have recovered. There have been no deaths.

But the lack of human resources, in particular, laboratory technicians as well as nurses, poses a challenge within Nunavik’s health network, Grey said during the meeting.

Before the pandemic, Nunavik was already facing staffing shortages, “but during these unprecedented times, this shortage is all the more felt,” Grey said in the release.

Dr. Marie Rochette, director of public health for the Nunavik health board, said that “Nunavik could carry out 600 tests per day, but only a third is done due to lack of personnel.”

Makivik Corp. President Charlie Watt and Kativik Regional Government Chairperson Jennifer Munick also took part in the meeting with Legault.

In the release, they praised Quebec’s support during the pandemic.

“I acknowledge Premier Legault for his interventions before COVID-19 affected Nunavik,” Munick said “Most importantly, we acknowledge and appreciate the strong collaboration of Nunavimmiut during these unprecedented times.”

Watt said he supported the efforts and work the health board is doing to ensure the safety of Nunavimmiut during the pandemic.

“The measures put in place have resulted in no other active cases in the region, which is reassuring,” Watt said.

As of July 18, everyone in Nunavik has had to wear a mask or face covering (covering the nose and the mouth) in all closed or partially covered public spaces, such as stores—the same as in the rest of Quebec.

The only exceptions are for ︎children under 12 and those whose health does not allow them to wear a mask.

Meanwhile, Nunavik still lacks scheduled air service. The only flights from Montreal to Kuujjuaraapik, Puvirnituq and Kuujjuaq, as well as all flights from the North to Montreal, remain charter flights.

However, Inuit travellers in southern Canada can now fly home to Nunavik.

All Inuit beneficiaries of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, whether they be Nunavik residents or not, are now allowed to travel in and out of Nunavik.

But they have to self-quarantine for 14 days before or after arriving in Nunavik, or a combination of both.

The same requirement applies to essential workers and construction workers.

Some essential workers and transient workers can go to work when they arrive but must follow strict public health measures, a recent update from the KRG said.

These workers are tested for COVID-19 before boarding flights for Nunavik.

In early July, a construction worker arrived in the Hudson Strait community of Salluit infected with COVID-19. After that, in mid-July, pre-departure COVID-19 testing became mandatory for all Nunavik-bound construction workers. The testing is now available at the Montreal airport.

The workers are tested once again seven days after arrival in Nunavik, the protocol states.

If you think you have symptoms related to COVID-19 or if you have been in contact with an infected person, call 1-888-662-7482 on Monday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Outside these business hours, you can leave a message.