Representatives of Chambers of Commerce from the Northwest side of Manitoba met with health and government officials to discuss restrictions placed on businesses in the north. Chambers represented were from The Pas, Flin Flon, Snow Lake and Manitoba Chambers.

The Chambers feel the northern community is too large to be treated as a single entity.  They requested the province consider adjusting the Northern Health Region into North Eastern and North Western zones using highway six as the dividing line for COVID restrictions only.  They feel that COVID cases in communities 400 to 800 kilometers away have little bearing and impact on people in the North West zone.  They note failure to lift the restrictions will cause people to travel outside their communities for shopping and other services increasing the chances of spreading the virus.

The Vice President of The Pas and District Chamber of Commerce Alan McLauchlan says they feel the meeting was successful and their request will be reviewed by the province in the near future but until that time continue to follow the Code Red restrictions to keep our numbers low so our businesses can re-open.