An attempt by the embattled northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat to obtain an injunction to block the work of a third-party manager appointed by Ottawa has failed.
A federal court rejected the native community's arguments to return control of its finances to the chief and council, a judgment released Friday states.
The band argued the appointment of the third-party manager would, among other things, cause "irreparable" harm to the community, its self-determination and ability to "remediate serious and urgent risks to the members" of the reserve.
The community near James Bay had declared a housing crisis in October that led the federal government to appoint a financial manager for the reserve, a move which angered native leaders across the country.
Ottawa has pledged funds to help fix existing homes and install 22 modular housing units to be sent to the community when the winter ice roads are ready, which should be in about a week.
