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From YouTube: JUNE 23 2020 Statements Jennifer Rice
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
5th Session
41st Parliament
A
Kovac
19
has
tested
the
resiliency
of
our
communities
in
an
unprecedented
manner,
while
our
community
stood
up
to
face
the
crisis
and
succeeded
in
flattening
the
curve
together.
The
public
health
emergency
has
brought
additional
challenges,
including
a
major
hit
to
our
economy
and
new
questions
on
how
to
keep
our
community
safe
going
forward.
Many
people,
especially
those
working
in
the
tourism
sector,
worry
that
checkpoints,
reduced
Ferry
and
airplane
traffic
and
declarations
of
community
closure
are
putting
their
businesses
and
livelihood
at
risk.
I
want
the
communities
I
represent
to
know
that
I
hear
you.
A
This
is
not
an
easy
issue
to
resolve
and
it
will
take
all
of
us
working
together
and
understanding
each
other
to
come
to
a
solution
that
meets
the
needs
of
all
community
members.
The
checkpoints
and
restrictions
put
in
place
by
First
Nations
were
made
with
the
best
interest
of
entire
communities
in
mind.
We
need
to
remember
that
First
Nations
people
who
have
already
suffered
the
effects
of
multiple
pandemics
since
colonization
began,
many
of
which
decimated
entire
communities.
A
This
experience,
combined
with
the
fact
that
people
living
in
First,
Nations
and
remote
communities
suffer
from
many
of
the
risk
factors
associated
with
kovat.
19
complications
have
made
many
communities
hesitant
to
allow
visitors
into
their
community.
At
the
same
time,
we
need
to
recognize
that
these
restrictions
are
putting
the
livelihoods
of
many
people,
both
indigenous
and
non-indigenous,
at
risk,
as
the
province
gets
ready
to
enter
phase
three
of
BC's
restart
plan
and
reopen
the
province
to
internal
travel.
Many
tourism
operators
are
hoping
to
welcome
visitors
for
the
summer
to
save
their
businesses
and
their
livelihood.
A
I
know
the
situation
has
sparked
tensions
between
indigenous
and
non-indigenous
communities
in
the
north
coast.
During
this
time,
however,
it's
important
that
we
heed
the
words
of
public
health
officer,
dr.
Barney
Henry,
to
be
kind
to
be
calm
and
to
be
safe.
We
can't
let
this
crisis
divide
us
working
together.
We
will
find
resolution.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.