Innu Nation demands Quebec workers entering Muskrat Falls site isolate 14 days outside Labrador
Innu Nation leaders are asking Nalcor for stricter precautions after the Crown corporation planned to send workers from Quebec to Labrador without a 14-day quarantine.
Eugene Hart, chief of the Sheshatshiu First Nation, told CBC he got a call Sunday that a chartered flight would arrive with six of the workers on board.
He was told those workers had entered the province from Quebec and isolated for seven days, rather than the 14 recommended by health officials in this province.
"They wanted to finish their days here, I guess," he said.
A Nalcor spokesperson clarified to CBC that those essential workers would, indeed, have carried out their remaining isolation while working at Muskrat Falls. Measures would have included self-isolating while not working, working in isolation and living in a separate complex.
"After 14 days in the province and several negative for COVID-19 test results, these workers could then work around others at site and live in the main accommodations facility," the spokesperson said in an email Tuesday.
Nalcor said it stood down on the plan after speaking to Innu leaders.
"While we are comfortable with all the health and safety measures we have put in place at the Muskrat Falls site … we agreed to delay travel for these six workers from outside Newfoundland and Labrador until their 14 days of isolation in St. John's was completed," the statement said.
Plan inappropriate: Hart
When Hart heard the plan, he relayed his concerns to Nalcor. "My message to them was let them finish their quarantine in St. John's," Hart said.
"We don't know who's carrying this virus. It could have been one of these people doing the isolation."
Many of those working at Muskrat Falls live in small, remote communities across Labrador, and return to their homes after their rotation.
Immunization programs began Monday in Makkovik and Tuesday in Rigolet, while Sheshatshiu residents are slated to begin receiving the Moderna vaccine next week.
With those communities wary of exposure until they reach widespread immunity, Hart says they can't be too careful.
"I don't think that's appropriate, to bring in people from outside when there's a big lockdown in Quebec and Ontario," he said.
"We're fine so far here in Labrador, but it only takes one person bringing it in and it goes like wildfire."
Nalcor said workers from within the province headed back to work on Saturday. They were not required to isolate, and Hart says the Innu Nation doesn't see a problem with travel within the province.
The energy firm says it required outside workers for highly specialized work. Those workers had taken two COVID-19 tests, all of which returned negative, the spokesperson said.
"If you're coming in from another province, that's a totally different ball game," Hart said.
"We're in a small place.… We don't want to take a chance."
The Department of Health told CBC it was not aware and not involved with the situation, as essential workers are designated by the employer.
