“My heart goes out to the families and the communities of Pelican Narrows and Montreal Lake,” Beck said.
“As you recover from this tragedy, and the trauma that you did not deserve, I know that you will need more supports.
I’m sorry for your loss — I’m sorry you had to face this. And am sorry that your government has ignored your pleas for help that span years.”
Days before these traumatic and devastating events, community leaders in Pelican Narrows had again raised concerns about rising crime and violent incidents, including organized crime shootings, bears spray attacks, and Molotov cocktails being thrown at homes.
“For years, the leaders and residents of communities like Pelican Narrows and Montreal Lake have been begging for support to tackle the crime wave that has gotten out of control in their communities,” said Jordan McPhail, Northern Affairs Shadow Minister.
“The people of the North are desperate, and losing faith in this government, that only pays attention to them immediately after a crisis or disaster.”
Data released by Statistics Canada last week showed that the North had a crime rate nine times higher than the rest of the province, which, overall, has the highest and fastest-growing severe crime rate in the country.
Two days before the data was released, McPhail and Community Safety Shadow Minister Nicole Sarauer wrote to Moe and Community Safety Minister Michael Weger demanding action on the public safety crisis. To date, there has been no response from the Minister.
“Scott Moe is speaking to media today in Weyburn,” McPhail said. “He needs to explain why the North has been abandoned by his Government, and he needs to apologize to the mourning communities for the failures of his government.
“It’s time that Northern Saskatchewan had a government that was in its corner — it’s clear, after 20 years, that’s never going to be Scott Moe and the Sask. Paty.
“It is time for change.”
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