10 Percent of Emergency Funds Paid Out to Kahnawakero’non
Written by Paul Graif on 15 April 2020
The Kahnawake Covid-19 Task Force has decided that it will be status quo for the measures that have already been taken in Kahnawake.
“We feel that at this point in time, regardless of the comments of Premier Legault. At this point in time the directive that construction is for emergency repairs only, will be maintained,” Commissioner of Public Safety Lloyd Phillips said.
“The bottom line is that Kahnawake is for Kahnawake residents only and essential people. We want to protect our community as best as we possibly can.”
So far just over $900 000 has been paid out to Kahnawake residents and businesses as part of the Emergency Relief Fund, according to Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Chief Gina Deer.
Deer says 304 payments were sent out in the first round of payouts last week, and a second round of payments to 279 community members will go out on Thursday in the amount of $390 000.
Deer says 41 business applications have been processed and approved and payouts of $82 278 have been made so far.
Those monies are to get the community through the crisis. Planning is beginning on how to emerge from it.
“We will begin working with Tewatohnhi’saktha and the local businesses to start planning for the eventuality for when things will start returning back to normal. We don’t want to just throw a switch on and then have to turn it off again,” Phillips said.
Chief Peacekeeper Dwayne Zacharie says his force is “extremely pleased with the cooperation we are getting from the majority of the community,” he said.
He says that some families in the community did not comply over the Easter weekend. “People under your own roof, that’s okay. People from other places not under your roof, that’s a no no,” Zacharie said.
The Peacekeepers have handed out 60 infractions for people contravening the signs and edict that Kahnawake is off limits to non residents. The fine is $1541. “No one from Kahnawake has received a fine yet. Probably that is coming soon,” Zacharie said.
As part of Quebec’s directives medical professionals are no longer allowed to work at more than one location. That means the Kateri Memorial Hospital Center will have to readjust and balance their staffing according to Executive Director Lisa Westaway. That will affect the LPNs, RNs and PABs (Orderlies).
“We will be losing some of our staff because of the directives,” Westaway said. “We will be noticing the impact especially concerning our orderlies. This is okay. This is a process happening across Quebec. Other staff will be adding extra time as they leave their other locations and stay at the KMHC.”
