Green Lake mayor asks for more protection

No checkpoints on way to north village

SASKATOON The lack of checkpoints on Highway 55 means the northern village of Green Lake is at higher risk of spreading COVID -19, according to the village’s mayor, Ric Richardson.

The public health order Premier Scott Moe announced last month restricted non-essential travel in northwestern Saskatchewan, but that didn’t extend to Green Lake, Richardson said.

“We are part of (northwestern Saskatchewan), but we’re not being treated as if we are,” he said. “Which means our residents are at risk unnecessarily.”

There are checkpoints to the north on Highway 155, he said. However, that doesn’t restrict access to the community or to Highway 55, which runs through the village.

On top of that, Richardson is worried some Green Lake residents’ lifestyles put them at higher risk of spreading the novel coronavirus. Because of this, he fears an outbreak similar to La Loche if further steps aren’t taken.

He’s similarly concerned that the village’s proximity to the Alberta border means travellers crossing into Saskatchewan could increase the risk of spreading the virus.

As of Tuesday, Richardson continued to wait on a response from Marlo Pritchard, president of the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, which oversees checkpoints.

While he waits, another northern municipality, the Town of La Ronge, successfully asked the province to reverse its restriction exception last week.

In an emailed statement, Public Safety Agency spokesman Christopher Clemett said the government is “aware of concerns regarding the travel restrictions.”

He said the restrictions were created in consultation with northern leaders and were imposed to restrict the spread of the virus.

“The Government of Saskatchewan will continue to work with Indigenous and community leaders throughout the North to address concerns that are raised, while ensuring that travel restrictions are upheld to limit the spread of COVID -19,” he wrote.

Other northern leaders said they share Richardson’s concerns.

“The lack of checkpoints has left Green Lake vulnerable to exposure of COVID-19 because of the increased travel through there,” said Rick Laliberte, commander of the North West Communities Incident Command Centre.

The command centre made up of northern leaders recently wrote a public letter asking the province to clear confusion around checkpoints. The letter also referenced food security issues and a lack of consultations regarding checkpoints in the region.