Council backtracked on a decision originally made last week. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Public Pressure

La Ronge council to request public health order exemption be rescinded

May 4, 2020 | 1:35 PM

La Ronge council has bowed down to public pressure and has asked the provincial government to rescind a public health order exemption given to the municipality last week.

That’s according to Coun. Jordan McPhail, who said the decision to rescind the exemption was made at a special council meeting May 3. On April 30, further restrictions were placed on the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District (NSAD) banning all non-critical travel into northern Saskatchewan, as well as between northern communities. La Ronge and Stony Rapids were excluded.

Only days before the announcement, council held a closed meeting where it was decided to ask the province for such an exemption, which was ultimately granted.

“That’s ultimately what was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” McPhail said about public pressure. “It was the hard work of the people in our municipality reaching out to the officials and asking them to reconsider.”

Town councillors also decided to throw their support behind the check stop south of La Ronge and will be requesting data compiled at the check stop be shared with leadership of the tri-communities.

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La Ronge resident Cheryl Jeffries was one local who voiced her concerns about council’s original decision. She started a petition which was widely shared and supported on social media. Jeffries said the petition was a way council could see who else was also concerned about their decision.

“I felt they weren’t taking into consideration the concerns of our community,” she said. “I’m glad they have taken the petition into consideration. I felt there was no consultation with our community regarding that. From my standpoint, the safety of our community members is the most important thing.”

Jeffries noted she will be waiting for an announcement or media release from the provincial government in the coming days rescinding the decision.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno