Federal update on COVID-19 in Indigenous communities – January 20, 2021

Credit:cpac

During a news conference on Parliament Hill, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller provides an update on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic, focusing on its impact on Indigenous communities in Canada and on vaccine distribution in these communities. He also comments on the death of Raphaël André. The minister says all levels of government failed André, an Innu homeless person who was found dead steps away from the Montreal shelter he used to frequent. The shelter was closed because of a COVID-19 outbreak. Minister Miller is joined by Valerie Gideon (senior assistant deputy minister, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Indigenous Services Canada) and Dr. Tom Wong (chief medical officer of public health, Indigenous Services Canada).