Chief Critical Of Government Medevac Service

Chief Critical Of Government Medevac Service

Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 15:20

 

 

A northern Saskatchewan First Nations chief says he wishes the provincial government would utilize a local plane service more when it comes to medevac flights for his people.

 

Clearwater River First Nation Chief Roy Cheecham says for the past year, the government has been reducing service at Clearwater Aviation.

 

The band-owned company is essentially one plane.

 

However, the chief says for a long time it has been invaluable in transporting residents to hospital when they need care.

 

Cheecham says the government now relies on its own air ambulance service to get people down south in medical emergencies.

 

However, he argues it is a much slower service than the old one — and can’t offer the same round-the-clock availability.

 

The chief adds Clearwater Aviation is also a business, and this loss in service could break it.

 

No one from the Keewatin Yatthe Regional Health Authority or Saskatchewan Health was immediately available for comment.