By Colton Swiderski

NDP leader comes to La Loche, while local MP waits for change

Feb 3, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Nearly three weeks after the La Loche tragedy, NDP leader Tom Mulcair came to the town to pay his respects. After his visit, and visits from both the Prime Minister and Saskatchewan’s Premier, MP Georgina Jolibois hopes issues in her community will be addressed.   

Jolibois was met on Tuesday, Feb. 3, by Mulcair. They attended the funerals of Dayne and Drayden Fontaine, two brothers killed during the Jan. 22 tragedy.

They met with Prince Albert Grand Council and Lac La Ronge area Chiefs, as well as health region and village council members.

“We visited as many residents as we could,” Jolibois said adding the pair met with local businesses leaders.

Mulcair’s visit comes nearly a week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in La Loche, Jan. 29.

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Trudeau and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall visited the community and promised government support in the form of infrastructure and health care investment – not only in La Loche but other remote, northern communities across Canada.

“I’m glad that he came to visit La Loche and I welcome his words; he’s a gentleman. He was helpful, his actions were very soothing and very calming and very helpful,” Jolibois said.

Jolibois was the mayor of La Loche from 2003 until she became the NDP MP for the Desnethe – Missinippi – Churchill River riding in the 2015 Federal Election.

Jolibois said the shooting has deeply affected her because she has personal ties to the La Loche Community School.

“The school – the Dene building – was my school; I went to that high school. I finished my grade twelve there and I graduated from there…I went on to university, got a degree and I came back,” Jolibois said…“It’s a really difficult time, a really difficult tragedy.”

“The community requires immediate support and I hope to see the results from (Trudeau’s) visit fairly quickly.”

Of this support, Jolibois would like counselling services offered in the community’s native tongue.

“La Loche is a Dene community, the language and the culture. All the services being offered must take that into consideration. The families, I know they may not be asking of those agencies but I know they are coming to me and others and saying ‘please, I don’t understand the English language, I need to have services in my language,’” she said.

Jolibois hopes safety will be at the top of mind for everyone when transitioning back to school.

“I hope that the emotional, mental, spiritual safety measures are in place to ensure that the teachers and the students feel safe to go back to school – to go back to the Dene building,” Jolibois said.

On Jan. 22, a 17-year-old La Loche youth shot two young men at a residence before heading to the La Loche Community School’s Dene Building and opening fire; killing two more people and injuring seven more.

La Loche Community School is scheduled to reopen on Feb. 22.

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski