People living in communities on the north coast of Labrador are stressed out over the presence of COVID-19 at the Vale mine site in Voisey’s Bay and the MHA for the area is blaming government secrecy.

Lela Evans, the independent member for Torngat Mountains, says it’s difficult trying to get an accurate count of cases but she believes that about 170 of the workers are in isolation. All five communities on the coast have people who work at the mine.

Evans says the Nunatsiavut Government and Innu Nation are each presented with case information but overall totals are difficult to come by. That makes it tough on people who live in her district.

Her issue is with government, not Vale.

She tried unsuccessfully to get answers from the provincial government. While COVID is harmful, she believes that the secrecy is more harmful.