The Hawood Inn at Waskesiu is a popular spot for banquets, meetings, and recently hosted MN-S leadership. (Facebook/ Hawood Inn)

By Nigel Maxwell and CKOM

COVID political unrest

Waskesiu hotel owner concerned with mixed messaging after COVID case leads to temporary closure

Sep 22, 2020 | 6:14 PM

Nancy Wood, the owner of the Hawood Inn at Waskesiu Lake, is supposed to be in the middle of one of her busiest weeks of the year.

The Men’s Lobstick golf tournament at nearby Waskesiu Golf Course, usually brings in plenty of business. But this year, the hotel is closed for cleaning after Glen McCallum, president of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) tested positive for COVID-19. He held meetings with 28 other people over the weekend.

“We have a large group of people that are unhappy,” Wood said. “The impact that it has on staff — the stress and challenges that all businesses are facing is overwhelming for many.”

MN-S told 650 CKOM Monday that McCallum went for a drive-thru test in Saskatoon last Tuesday “after deciding to begin a regular schedule of testing given his role as a public figure and out of a desire to pro-actively safeguard others.”

Since he presented no symptoms, MN-S said McCallum was not told to isolate. Instead, he continued on with scheduled meetings and was informed his results were positive on Friday afternoon.

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Wood said she called the Saskatchewan Health Authority shortly afterwards and was told to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days because she and her staff were considered “low contact.”

“We were also told not to expand our social bubbles, and preferably just be at home or at the hotel,” Wood said, adding that she cancelled plans in Saskatoon for the weekend.

“So the message that we received, even without symptoms and no testing, we received and understood was complete contradiction stated to the media by Metis Nation-Saskatchewan — that he wasn’t told to not be travelling.”

Wood wouldn’t say if McCallum was wearing a mask or distancing from others while at the hotel.

Protocols listed on the province’s COVID-19 website states a person with no symptoms and no known exposure does not need to isolate unless a positive result is received. Wood wasn’t required to close her doors but felt it was needed to ensure proper cleaning.

“This is a one-person show,” Wood said. “Because the positive person was in meetings with upwards of 30 others, in all good conscience, we had to deep clean all rooms. They occupied 28 rooms.”

Wood said there is a lot more than some missed revenue at stake, adding that staff have had plenty of anxiety and little sleep since closing.

“Their families are worried about them,” she said. “Now I can’t help but get a little angry when I see the effect it has had on my staff.”

During Tuesday’s COVID-19 provincial press conference, Premier Scott Moe was asked by reporters if he thought McCallum’s actions were irresponsible and grounds for an investigation. Moe replied that he won’t comment on any particular case.

“I will say when there are cases when people have knowingly or unknowingly gone outside the public health order, and the advice of the public health laws we have in place, there are active contact tracing efforts that are underway as well as if it’s decided that it’s necessary there are active investigations that are underway,” he said.

A call for McCallum’s resignation

paNOW has received a copy of a letter sent to Glen McCallum, that calls for him to “do the right thing and resign.”

The letter was typed by Jim Durocher, who has been involved in the Métis political movement since the 1970s and is the current president of A La Baie Métis Local at Ile a La Crosse.

“Never in all this time have I witnessed such unprofessional behaviour that has been reported in the media over the past few days, and especially your complete disregard for others you have come in contact with since you took your COVID test last week,” he said, later referring to McCallum’s actions as “reckless” and “unforgivable.”

The letter was typed in directed response to an interview Nancy Wood conducted with CBC Saskatchewan earlier in the week, in which she claimed McCallum ignored pleas to follow COVID-19 protocols, and also described his behaviour as “rude” and “followed his own rules.”

Durocher also suggested in his letter that businesses like the Hawood Inn may be seeking financial compensation.

“The liability is solely on your shoulders [McCallum’s], and the MN-S should not be expected to pay any costs which may be attributed to you,” he said.

Prince Albert Métis leader defends McCallum

Sherry McLennan, the director of Western Region Two for the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, was also at the meetings in Waskesiu and had supper with McCallum Thursday night.

“The president wasn’t sick and he wasn’t showing any signs of being sick,” she said.

“I would have done the same thing not being sick. I would have still said ‘you know go on with our lives, I’m gonna test negative,'” McLennan said.

In response to the public attacks against McCallum, McLennan cautioned people to be careful what they read, adding the MN-S is in full election mode at the moment.

“Maybe he did make a mistake, maybe he should have went home and self isolated but you know what, we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t when you’re a politician,”‘ she said, adding there’s a struggle within the MN-S from the old leadership who want back in power. “We’re gonna put one guy on the chopping block because he didn’t do something right.”

McLennan herself has taken a COVID-19 test and is currently awaiting the results. In the meantime, the MN-S office in Prince Albert remains open while she works from home.

–– with files from CKOM staff

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell