Beck and McPhail met this morning with Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River MP and Secretary of State Buckley Belanger, who confirmed the Canadian Armed Forces are ready to deploy to northern Saskatchewan within 24 hours of a formal request.
“We need a national approach to this crisis,” said Beck. “The federal government is ready. The military is ready. We cannot leave any help on the table.”
“This is about the future of the North and the thousands of families that proudly call it home.”
Belanger, who spoke earlier this week on CBC’s Saskatoon Morning, said military, policing, and communications support are all available, but said that the Premier has not yet requested them.
“People are scared and tired,” said McPhail. “We’ve heard from evacuees who just want to know help is on the way to save their communities. We've heard from first responders who are exhausted and need relief.”
More than 15,000 people have already been forced from their homes in Northern Saskatchewan.
In neighbouring Manitoba, Premier Wab Kinew has already requested and received federal military support.
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