NDP critics joined Indigenous leaders for a press conference in Regina on Monday to call for the province to deliver promises of adequate cell service. (Submitted photo/NDP)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

Connectivity needed

NDP, Indigenous leaders demand action for community cell service

Feb 14, 2022 | 2:38 PM

Chief Leon Crookedneck of Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation (MLCN) and several Indigenous leaders joined opposition critics in Regina today to call attention to a lack of cell coverage in northern First Nations communities.

A community of around 1,000 people near Loon Lake, Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation lacks reliable cell service. As a result, this leaves residents at risk as they have to travel long distances to get coverage or find someone with a landline.

Paul Pospisil, consultant with BDO Canada LLP for MLCN, told meadowlakeNOW that the need for connectivity is critical in today’s world. He gave a recent example of having had calls from SaskTel where the resulting messages didn’t go anywhere while he was in the community.

“How can you expect us to communicate when there’s no connectivity?” he said. “The COVID situation with online learning and all the things that needed to take place, they didn’t have cellular connectivity.”

“It’s the way of the world to be connected and unfortunately, we are not.”

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Pospisil said Chief Crookedneck doesn’t want MLCN to be treated like they’re out in the bush.

“In order to participate in economic development and any initiatives, they need to be connected,” he said.

Betty Nippi-Albright, NDP critic for First Nations and Métis Relations, said the Sask. Party must stop giving lip service to reconciliation.

“Twelve years ago, this provincial government promised Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation that they would provide cell coverage,” she told meadowLakeNOW. “And they haven’t done so.”

MLCN is one of several communities that lacks cell coverage, including those within the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. Nippi-Albright noted that they are paying for coverage they aren’t getting and that this is a particular problem in Indigenous and northern communities.

“There’s 74 new towers that have been announced and are in their final stages,” she said. “Not one of them is close to an indigenous community.”

Nippi-Albright and Trent Wotherspoon, NDP Critic for SaskTel, called for the government to work with MLCN and bypass pulling a dividend from SaskTel in this year’s budget, so it can invest in making cell and internet connectivity happen all across Saskatchewan.

“Well find out if they are going to follow through with [their promises],” Nippi-Albright said.

The province announced its previous budget on April 6, 2021, with a projected deficit of $2.6 billion and eventual balance expected by 2026-07.

Province’s response

meadowlakeNOW reached out to the Sask. Party for comment and received a statement from Crown Investments Corporation Minister, Don Morgan, who said the government understands how important wireless communication services has become, particularly in remote areas. He also highlighted the Community Partnership Prgram established in 2013.

“Although SaskTel’s wireless network reaches over 99% of the population of the province, we recognize that there are areas of Saskatchewan that remain underserved,” he said. “SaskTel and Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation have been actively engaging under the Community Partnership Program to improve wireless access in their area.”

Regarding funding, Morgan said SaskTel applied for federal funding via the Universal Broadband Fund to bring improved coverage to MLCN.

“Despite submitting its proposal nearly 2 years ago, SaskTel has still not received a response on its application to support Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation,” he said. “We urge the Federal Government to work with SaskTel to improve wireless coverage across northern Saskatchewan.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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