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More Attawapiskat homes on way to Ontario community

By Staff 14/02/2012 05:42:00

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A convoy carrying two more modular homes for the people of Attawapiskat was scheduled to leave Moosonee, Ont., at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday for the 12-hour trip along the ice road to the native community facing a housing crisis.

It's a promise from Ottawa the people of the troubled Ontario First Nations community have been waiting to see fulfilled for some time, reported the CBC's Megan Thomas, who was travelling with the convoy.

The federal government promised the new homes after the community declared a state of emergency last fall.

Wally Turner, operations manager for the ice road, says five units have made it to Attawapiskat so far.

Moosonee north to Attawapiskat

"It's going pretty good," he told CBC News. "There's no glitches whatsoever. Everything is smooth. The road is good for them. The drivers are taking their time, being really cautious."

The transport is part of a fleet of trucks that moves cargo north across a road crafted from ice and snow. The ice road season is a lifeline for moving fuel and supplies to Ontario's far north.

Each trip takes about eight hours to cover the 300 kilometres north to Attawapiskat. The drivers then have to make a return trip before a fresh crew can load up the next set of houses.

Before the ice road season ends, a total of 22 homes have to be transported. Turner believes they will all make it before the spring melt.

"We normally run, in a good year, right until the end of March," he said. "But again, Mother Nature has her own way of doing things here, and that's pretty well our boss. She dictates what goes on on our road."

At Attawapiskat, work is underway to prepare lots for the 22 new homes, Thomas reported. It's not clear how long it will be before people can move in, however.

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