Sask. First Nations not keen on federal budget

The new federal budget doesn’t do enough to close the income gap between aboriginal people and the rest of Canada, say Saskatchewan First Nations leaders.

While it does include some new funding and programs, the budget is an “average one” for First Nations, says Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas. But he didn’t expect significant change in aboriginal policies or funding.

“Maybe that’s from years of being hopeful and now I’m just more realistic,” Thomas said.

New investments in skills training and post-secondary education support is good to see, Thomas said. But he wants more emphasis on early childhood education support to ensure the next generation of First Nations can take advantage of the training opportunities.

“Those early stages are where you have to help them to get them into training later on,” Thomas said. “We need to prepare them for the opportunities that are there.”

The new First Nations Job Fund will put $109 million toward job training for onreserve income-assistance recipients, with an additional $132 million to support the delivery of the program.

The budget does not address the disparity between First Nations and the rest of Canada, said Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde, highlighting the gap in funding between reserve and non-reserve schools as a problem not addressed in the budget. “There is a huge socio-economic gap and there has to be key strategic investments in housing, in education, in infrastructure,” Bellegarde said.

“I don’t see those investments there. Because there is such a huge gap there has to be investment in all areas. Maintaining the status quo means the gap is widening.”

The government is developing a First Nations Education Act and said it is “committing to sharing draft legislation with First Nations communities for their input.” It aims to pass the legislation by September 2014.

Thomas said he would have liked to see First Nations involved in the draft legislation from the beginning.

“We want to share the pen and help draft it,” he said.

Providing $9 million to help First Nations develop their own land management legislation is good news, Thomas said.

The government is renewing First Nations’ infrastructure investments of $155 million from the Building Canada fund over the next 10 years. Because that money is spread across Canadian reserves, it might not do much to fix housing or water quality problems on reserves, Bellegarde said.

“If you deal with these things now, it’s an economic catalyst,” Bellegarde said. “Dealing with poverty is a good thing for all of Canada.” —With Postmedia News files