In one of the most horrendous acts, the Conservative government, after promising help to First Nations; the ones most vulnerable to the H1N1 virus; has chosen to send body bags.
This government has done so many insensitive and horrible things, but this one is low even for them. To say that something is too low for a Conservative, is saying a mouthful. Can you imagine telling your doctor you're worried about getting sick and he sends you a body bag? Unbelievable.
Chiefs furious after body bags sent to reserves
September 16, 2009 9:18 PM ET
CTV News Staff
Opposition critics and First Nations leaders are slamming the government after Health Canada shipped dozens of body bags to aboriginal communities in Manitoba that have been hit hard by swine flu.
Chiefs said the body bags were sent to a handful of northern communities where dozens had to be airlifted earlier this year.
"If this is preparedness, they're sending the wrong message to our communities. Who would do such a thing?" Grand Chief David Harper, representing Manitoba's northern First Nations, asked Wednesday.
"It's like sending body bags to Afghanistan for our soldiers. We've been asking for proper health institutions, proper health equipment. Instead, what do we get? Body bags. That's totally unacceptable."
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said at a flu briefing in Ottawa Wednesday that she too was disturbed by the move.
"I have ordered my deputy minister to conduct a thorough and immediate inquiry into the situation and I will continue to work with First Nations, provinces and territories to ensure all Canadians are informed and protected against H1N1," she said.
Aglukkaq said she only found out about the body bag shipments during the press conference and could not answer any more questions.
David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, called the body bags "unnecessary."
Opposition critics immediately slammed the move, saying it shows the government is unprepared in its flu response.
"This is an absolute disgrace. This is morally appalling," Liberal health critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett said in a news release. "Instead of flu-kits, instead of preparing and planning to get the vaccine on time - instead of planning to save lives - they spent their time planning on how to deal with the deaths."
Bennett is among the many critics who have expressed frustration with the government's slow response to help northern aboriginal communities deal with the H1N1 pandemic.
New Democrat MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis said she was angry that Health Canada refused to send hand sanitizer to reserves but is now sending body bags.
She said the move gives a poor impression about how Canada is preparing to deal swine flu if there is a larger outbreak.
More Postings on H1N1:
1. This H1N1 Crisis Could Have Been Handled Better. It's That Simple
2. Did You Ever Wonder What Stephen Harper's Private Health Care Plan Might Look Like?
3. Reform Conservatives Laugh and Heckle Over H1N1
4. Harper's Neo-Conservatism Is Turning Deadly. When Will we Wake Up?
5. Latest Deaths Reveal That 'Exaggeration' over H1N1 Has Been Proven to Be False
6. Poll Reveals That Canadians Believe That the H1N1 Crisis Was Mishandled
7. Panic by Canadians Caused by Incompetent Government
8. Did you Ever Wonder Just How Inhumane the Harper Government Was?
9. Reform Conservatives Are Still Not Taking H1N1 Seriously
10. The Harper Government Continues to Confuse us Over H1N1 Vaccine
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