Close X
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Cause of fire that killed 2 children on Saskatchewan reserve unknown: officials

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Feb, 2015 02:27 PM

    LOON LAKE, Sask. — Fire officials say they don't know what caused the blaze that killed two children on a northern Saskatchewan reserve last week.

    Two-year-old Harley Cheenanow and his 18-month-old sister, Haley, died after the fire broke out at their grandmother's house.

    The volunteer fire department in nearby Loon Lake was called but didn't respond, because service to the reserve had been cut weeks earlier over unpaid bills.

    Investigators said Wednesday the source of the fire can't be determined because of the "complete burn" nature of the blaze.

    "(We) have confirmed that a battery-operated smoke detector was in the home at the time of the fire, but it is not known if it was in normal working condition," said a statement from Emergency Management and Fire Services.

    RCMP officers were the only first responders that showed up to help as the fire raged.

    The grandmother managed to get out alive but the children, carried out of the burning home by their father, died at the scene.

    Chief Richard Ben of the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation has said his reserve has a working fire truck, but they don't have enough money for proper equipment or to train crews to use it.

    Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said in a letter to the federal government last week that First Nations receive insufficient funding to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

    He said the situation has reached a "critical level" and asked for a meeting with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.

    Valcourt has said Makwa Sahgaiehcan, like all other reserves, gets sufficient funding for fire services and it's up to band officials to decide how the money is spent.

    In his letter, Bellegarde also said the government policy that caps annual funding increases for First Nations needs to change.

    "The lifting of the two per cent cap and replacing it with an appropriate escalator is a good place to start," he wrote.

    Valcourt's office has indicated the minister has agreed to meet with Bellegarde.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Record year for farm incomes in 2014, says federal agriculture outlook

    Record year for farm incomes in 2014, says federal agriculture outlook
    OTTAWA — Agriculture Canada says 2014 was a bumper year for the country's farmers, with aggregate net cash income projected to total a record $14 billion.

    Record year for farm incomes in 2014, says federal agriculture outlook

    High court excludes lawyers from part of money-laundering law

    High court excludes lawyers from part of money-laundering law
    OTTAWA — Sections of the federal government's anti-terrorism and money laundering financing law are unconstitutional because they violate solicitor-client privilege, the Supreme Court of Canada declared Friday.

    High court excludes lawyers from part of money-laundering law

    Saudi blogger spared flogging again this week: Amnesty International

    Saudi blogger spared flogging again this week: Amnesty International
    MONTREAL — Saudi Arabia postponed a planned flogging of blogger Raif Badawi for a fifth consecutive week, Amnesty International said Friday.

    Saudi blogger spared flogging again this week: Amnesty International

    What is meningococcal meningitis? Some questions and answers about the disease

    What is meningococcal meningitis? Some questions and answers about the disease
    HALIFAX — Here are some questions and answers about meningococcal meningitis:

    What is meningococcal meningitis? Some questions and answers about the disease

    Acadia University to immunize students, staff to combat outbreak of meningitis B

    Acadia University to immunize students, staff to combat outbreak of meningitis B
    HALIFAX — Health officials in Nova Scotia said Friday that Acadia University is dealing with an outbreak of meningitis after confirming that a second student contracted the same strain of the disease linked to the death of another young woman at the school.

    Acadia University to immunize students, staff to combat outbreak of meningitis B

    Nova Scotia justice minister promises mother report on son's death in jail

    Nova Scotia justice minister promises mother report on son's death in jail
    HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's minister of justice says she will give the mother of a man who died of a methadone overdose in jail copies of an internal inquiry once police have finished their investigation.

    Nova Scotia justice minister promises mother report on son's death in jail