THE TIME IS NOW! Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must immediately declare a National State of Emergency

(xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, BC – March 23, 2020):

 The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately declare a national state of emergency in response to the COVID-19, before the pandemic sweeps through Canada’s most vulnerable communities, including First Nations.

Reports and data from health professionals across Canada clearly point to the COVID-19 pandemic following the same track as Europe and Asia. There is still time to take greater action to lower the curve of transmission in Canada before it is too late. Every citizen of Canada must play an active role, through maximized and enforced social distancing, in an effort to stop this devastating disease. Citizens can’t afford to ignore this dire situation when lives are at risk.