SDSG – Local MP Eric Duncan has chastised the federal Liberal government, calling its handling of communications around COVID-19 evacuations and using Cornwall’s Nav Center an “absolute failure.”
Many people in the public, including elected officials, learned Saturday night that the Nav Center had been chosen to house over 200 people evacuated from Diamond Princess off the coast of Japan.
They will go through an extensive screening before getting on a chartered plane in Japan and again at CFB Trenton. If they are symptom-free, they will be transferred to Cornwall.
Duncan added that he was not invited to be part of meetings and briefings on Sunday but was only contacted by email on Sunday night.
The MP says he was briefed at noon today (Monday) by public health officials.
“The simple fact that the mayor, city administration, or local Member of Parliament were not advised or briefed before the announcement is unacceptable and has unnecessarily created concerns among many local residents,” Duncan said in a news release.