Saskatchewan's oldest settlement considers declaring state of emergency over crumbling highway
The mayor of Cumberland House says he’s considering declaring a state of emergency over the deteriorating condition of the only highway in and out of the village.
Saskatchewan Highway 123, the only road in and out of the province’s oldest settlement, has gotten so bad this year that locals say they’re often forced to go through the ditch to avoid getting stuck in the mud.
In the weeks since village officials spoke with CTV News about their concerns, rainfall across the province has just made matters worse, according to Mayor Ferlin McKay.
“It’s showering rain on everything and it’s really damaging our highways,” he told CTV News on Wednesday.
Only trucks with four-wheel drive can get in and out of the community, he said, making it difficult for those who have to travel regularly for medical appointments.
Even a tow truck got stuck this month while trying to pick up a medical truck that died trying to navigate the potholes and ruts, according to the village administrator.
On May 9, the manager of the local gas station said she was unable to get fuel into the community, and they were taking personal vehicles to restock what they could.
McKay says it’s even harder to get fuel and supplies into the village now.
“Even the grocery stores are running out of milk. We’re running out of bread, running out of meat [and] groceries in our community,” he said.
“I talked to the grocery manager, and they might have to start flying in groceries to our community, and it’s going to hurt the community; the high prices the stores are going to be charging.”
McKay says the village council is considering declaring a state of emergency. They’ll make a decision in the next few days after consulting with local Métis and First Nations leadership, he said.
A photo of conditions on Saskatchewan Highway 123, May 2024. (Courtesy: Village of Cumberland House)
Earlier this month, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways acknowledged it had been a “challenging spring thaw” for Cumberland House.
The ministry said it plans to spend about $3.3 million to repair Highway 123 this summer.
According to McKay, their investment does little to offset the high costs Cumberland House residents are bearing to bring goods in and out, and it won’t pay for the damage they sustain to their vehicles from the province’s poorly-maintained infrastructure.
Cumberland House expects to decide if it will declare a state of emergency sometime this week.
As conditions worsen on Highway 123, support for the community is building online.
Last week, Janelle Thomas started an online petition calling on the Ministry of Highways for “immediate action” to improve the highway infrastructure so vehicles can travel safely, any time of year.
“Transport vehicles carrying gasoline, food and other necessities are getting stuck because of freight weight,” Thomas writes in the online petition.
The problem is becoming life-threatening, Thomas says.
“Ambulances cannot make it through the muddy roads, putting our sick and elderly residents at risk of further illness or even death. Residents who rely on dialysis up to three times a week must leave the community for care but struggle with unreliable road conditions.”
Her petition has over 1,600 signatures so far.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6943621.1719510587!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Watch Live Now: Canadian analysis ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate
U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are set to go head-to-head tonight in the first of two planned presidential debates. Here's how to watch the CNN Presidential Debate, Power Play's pre- and post-debate specials, and follow along in our real-time CTVNews.ca live expert analysis and commentary by debate and body-language experts.
'Hanging on for her life': Sask. family desperate to bring home sick niece from Philippines
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it’s a matter of life or death.
'No additional flights will be cancelled': WestJet avoids strike as feds order binding arbitration
A potential strike by WestJet airplane mechanics would upend travel plans for 250,000 customers over the Canada Day long weekend, the airline says — and cost it millions of dollars.
BREAKING Nunavut judge sentences Toronto woman to 3 years prison for Inuit identity fraud
A Nunavut judge has sentenced a Toronto woman to three years in prison in a case of Inuit identity fraud.
Canada's top court rejects appeal from Sask. man who murdered wife
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected an application from a Saskatoon man who murdered his wife.
Where do new Canadians come from? India and Philippines take top spots
Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis.
Marilyn Monroe's former Los Angeles home declared a historic monument to save it from demolition
Fans of Marilyn Monroe have won a battle to preserve her mark on Los Angeles and are a step closer to seeing a towering statue of the silver screen icon remain in Palm Springs.
Man charged with threatening to kill presidential candidates found dead as jury was deciding verdict
A New Hampshire man charged with threatening the lives of presidential candidates last year has been found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict, according to court filings Thursday.
AI regulation 'a start,' needs to 'have teeth': Hinton, godfather of AI, says
So-called godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton says he's 'pleased' governments are starting to take artificial intelligence, and the possible regulations of it, seriously.