The MHA for Torngat Mountains says the north coast of Labrador is not the third world, and residents are entitled to the same level of services as their fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Lela Evans was responding in frustration to the suffering she’s seen as MHA and as a friend and family member of affected residents.

She says there is no reliable access to medivac services on the coast—and delays have led to questions, and in some cases, heartache in her community.

“‘If only’ how many times do I hear that?” Evans asks, “‘If only they would have got here quicker, if only we could get them out, if only they would have got treatment?'”

She says it’s not just about medical evacuations, but serious illness like cancer, diabetes and stroke. “People’s lives…have deteriorated because of the failure to respond adequately.”