AngusCharlie_NDPAs another season of flooding approaches on the James Bay coast, a new engineering report shows that it is impossible to assure the safety of the community.

“How many floods and evacuations will it take for this government to admit that they have failed the people of Kashechewan? They admit themselves that failed infrastructure could be putting lives at risk,” says NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay).

Chief Derek Stephen of the isolated fly-in community of Kashechewan commissioned a report on the deteriorating conditions of the dike wall that surrounds the community. The report by engineering firm Hatch confirms federal government assessments that public safety cannot be assured if there is a sudden surge of water.

It’s been seven years since the Harper government walked away on a plan to move the community to higher ground. Since then there has been one evacuation after another. Over 100 people are still in a state of evacuation from the devastation of last year’s flood.

“If there were a significant flooding event the lives of people in this community would be put at serious risk. It is deplorable that in one of the richest countries in the world, the government would allow such basic failures to infrastructure,” added NDP MP Romeo Saganash (Abitibi-Baie James- Nunavik- Eeyou).