Empty shelves in northern Manitoba First Nation spark renewed call for all-weather roads, emergency shipments

Near-empty grocery shelves this week at a store in a northern First Nation are yet another reason why such remote communities need all-weather roads, the community's chief says.

Manto Sipi Cree Nation Chief Michael Yellowback said all-season road access would give residents in the remote Manitoba First Nation more options to access more affordable supplies with the winter road network becoming less reliable due to climate change.

"An all-weather road is what we'd like to see," Yellowback said in a Thursday interview with CBC. "Every year it seems like the climate is getting warmer and warmer. The weather is impeding the construction of our winter roads every year."

He said while food is mostly flown into the community, other essential goods like fuel and construction supplies are brought in by winter roads. Yellowback said both would be cheaper with an all-season road.

Grand Chief Walter Wastesicoot of the Keewatin Tribal Council, which represents 11 northern First Nations including Manto Sipi, wrote to federal and provincial leaders Dec. 28. Wastesicoot called on both levels of government to invest in the construction of all-weather roads and to start preparing an immediate response in the event winter roads don't open.

"If the heavy trucking is not available this year due to the weather then I think it's appropriate to demand that Canada and Manitoba enact emergency protocols to ensure that our people get the supplies that they need," Wastesicoot said.

He said Canada could implement the Emergencies Act and Manitoba could activate its Emergency Measures Act. Wastesicoot asked for an urgent meeting with both levels but said the only person he's heard back from is Thompson MLA Eric Redhead.

Photos taken on Wednesday morning in Manto Sipi's Northern Store — the lone grocery store in the community — that were given to CBC by Yellowback show empty sections in the pasta, meat and juice aisles while other shelves were completely wiped out. 

While freight arrived Wednesday afternoon, after what Yellowback described as aircraft issues that delayed the shipment, he said communities like his shouldn't have to rely on flights and winter roads to get essential goods.

"Our shelves at the local Northern Store should be fully stocked at all times," Yellowback said. "We shouldn't be running into this where empty shelves are being had for several days or even a week or a week-and-a-half."

He echoed Wastesicoot's call for an emergency response if winter roads remain closed. Yellowback pointed to a state of emergency declared by the tribal council last March over several issues including infrastructure.

The provincial government didn't respond directly to a question from CBC about implementing the Emergency Measures Act to get supplies to communities which rely on winter roads.

According to Manitoba 511, all winter roads remained closed as of Thursday. A provincial spokesperson told CBC Wednesday that Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure expects they will open in line with historical averages.

Yellowback said the 71-kilometre-long winter road leading into his community is still closed due to warm weather. He said work to open it up usually starts at the end of November or the first week in December, but he said it didn't start until after Christmas this winter.

"With the lack of snow and lack of cold weather … our muskegs are not really frozen and the creek crossings are still running and not frozen," Yellowback said.

"We don't have that option of just flying out to get these items. Because it costs us an arm and a leg to go either to Thompson or Winnipeg. Average airfare is over $1,000."

Wastesicoot, meantime, cited an example of one northern community that he said previously paid $222,135 for one load of construction supplies, but had to spend an additional $505,000 for trucking and air shipping and handling to get the materials to their community.

"We need a much better strategy in the north here.… All-season roads would reduce the cost of transporting freight into our communities, ensure that food stocks are available to our First Nations," Wastesicoot said.

"Our people are living 50 years behind as far as no access to the outside world goes."

Suzanna Su, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada, said it will make sure the delivery of essential supplies isn't disrupted by a shortened winter road season. 

"Minister Patty Hajdu's office has also reached out to the Manitoba government to organize a joint meeting to discuss immediate and long-term options with the communities," Su said in an email.

In an email to CBC Thursday, a spokesperson for the Northwest Company, which runs Northern Stores that supply remote communities with many essential goods, said the company couldn't comment on how the construction of all-season roads would impact shipping costs.

Mike Beaulieu, the company's vice-president of Canadian store operations, said while December has been unusually mild, it's still too early to assess any impact on winter road shipping.

"Most shipments only start to flow in late January, and we've been planning ahead for the potential of a short season," Beaulieu said in email to CBC.

He said operational problems caused unintended product shortages this week in Manto Sipi Cree Nation, which he said the company is aware of and addressing quickly.  

"Cargo shipments arrived in the community yesterday and again today, with another flight planned over the weekend," Beaulieu said. "We apologize to our Gods River customers and appreciate their patience and support."

Yellowback said Manto Sipi is also waiting on six housing units to be shipped on winter roads.

He said his community has previously been a part of discussions on building all-weather roads, which is something Yellowback said he'd be willing to do again.

"The window for the winter road to be open is becoming less and less," Yellowback said. "We've noticed that has decreased over time."