Former Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. Two cabinet ministers will speak at the United Nations in New York City today about the government's approach to indigenous affairs, but grave conditions on a northern Ontario reserve have prompted the NDP's indigenous affairs critic to cancel his attendance as part of the Canadian delegation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Former Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. Two cabinet ministers will speak at the United Nations in New York City today about the government’s approach to indigenous affairs, but grave conditions on a northern Ontario reserve have prompted the NDP’s indigenous affairs critic to cancel his attendance as part of the Canadian delegation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

 

Recent reports of mental health workers quitting on the James Bay coast is raising some concern.

The reports say workers are walking off the job due to issues of harassment.

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus says it’s not his place to get involved in workplace disputes, but wants to make sure there’s workers on the ground putting in the work.

“We’ve worked really hard to get the resources for mental health teams in the James Bay region so (Timmins-James Bay MPP) Gilles Bisson and I have written to the CEO at the Weeneebayko Health Authority just to say ‘We’ve heard this, there is concern, tell us are there issues and how can we fix it and how do we ensure that we’ve got teams on the ground that are ready to do the work and feeling empowered to do the work,'” he said.

“Because that’s what people expect.”

Earlier this year, Attawapiskat declared a state of emergency due to a number of youth attempting suicide.  The issue made national headlines, and prompted calls to the government to address the issues on the coast.

 

 

 

 

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