Stranded patient back on his feet in Ottawa

Palluq Manning, a diabetic with kidney failure and other serious medical conditions, now has a roof over his head and a place to eat in Ottawa.

He is renting a room, which he said he found on his own, and takes his meals at Larga Baffin, the residence for Nunavut patients in Ottawa.

Thanks to the generosity of Nunavummiut who organized fundraisers on his behalf, Manning has some extra financial assistance as he manages his health care and a new life in the city.

“I would like to thank everybody,” Manning said.

Manning was particularly touched by a car wash benefit organized by a group of young people who don’t know him. He also appreciated the many letters from old friends and faraway supporters.

“It helped a lot mentally.”

Manning, 37, became homeless after he was stranded in Ottawa following his recovery from a seven-month diabetic coma: he now requires dialysis treatment three times a week to keep him alive, a service that is not offered in Nunavut.

Because the Government of Nunavut no longer considers him a resident, Manning is no longer eligible for housing or help from territorial patient services in Ottawa.

Manning said has never heard anything more from the GN, since he received a letter from Wayne Govereau, Nunavut’s former director of health and social service programs, dated June 27.

In this letter, Govereau said “major medical concerns” mean Palluq has to live in Ottawa full-time.

“This consequently requires you to become an Ontario resident and therefore qualifies you to be financially supported under the Ontario system,” Govereau told Manning.

“I don’t want to live here, but I don’t have much of a choice now,” Manning said.