TORONTO – Ontario's Emergency Medical Assistance Team has been deployed to Sudbury to assist the local community in assessing and treating the medical needs of the evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation Reserve.

"Our priority is to ensure that the people of Kashechewan get the best possible care and support during this difficult time," said George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "We will work closely with our local health partners to address the immediate health needs of this community."

"We are mobilizing the province's resources to respond to this serious situation," said Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay. "We are working to ensure the health and safety of the community."

The Emergency Medical Assistance Team is a group of volunteer emergency medical professionals who are specifically trained to respond to major health emergencies. The team operates a self-sufficient 56-bed acute and intermediate care field unit with its own medical equipment and supplies, a communications centre, electricity and water.

"The EMAT is able to bring services and technology normally found in a hospital into the field" said Dr. Chris Mazza, CEO of Ontario Air Ambulance. "We will be working to assess and triage the evacuees and support local health care and emergency personnel."

The EMAT is operated by Ontario Air Ambulance and deployed at the request of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This is the EMAT's first full-scale deployment since this special unit was established in January of 2004.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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