Cross Lake and the NDP's failure to implement the Northern Flood Agreement

In mid-December, after the end of the Legislative session, I was in Cross Lake for a visit. In the 1990s, the NDP campaigned that they would implement the Northern Flood Agreement for Cross Lake and the Pimicikamak people. In 2002, with much fanfare, Gary Doer's government announced, in Cross Lake, that the were going to implement the Northern Flood Agreement. A ribbon was cut in front of the building shown above. Much activity started to clean up the trees still left standing in the lake upstream from the JenPeg Dam. These trees had been left standing for more than 30 years, and due to the cold northern waters had not decayed. They still caused problems with fishermen's nets and with outboard motors. Well the work began, and people in the community of Cross Lake felt some hope. But about a year and a half later, all was shut down - stopped completely. And today, the building which was a sign of hope now stands empty - a signal of the failure of NDP promises to this community.