Native benefits to depend on participation

With aboriginal issues pushed to prominence through Idle No More protests, the federal budget acknowledged the importance of bringing aboriginal youth into the country’s economy — but tied much of the government assistance funding to training participation.

The budget called for $241million over five years “to improve the on-reserve Income Assistance Program to help ensure First Nations youth can access the skills and training they need to secure employment.”

But “benefits will depend on participation in training as per current practice in their province of residence,” the budget documents say.

An allocation of $109-million over five years to First Nations Job Fund, the budget says, goes to fund personalized job training. Even more money, $132-million over five years, is earmarked for creating the infrastructure, counseling support and compliance enforcement mechanisms for assistance recipients.

“Funding will be accessible only to those reserve communities that choose to implement mandatory participation in training for young Income Assistance recipients,” the budget document says.

The message from Jim Flaherty, the Finance Minister, in his budget speech to the House of Commons Thursday afternoon, was more diplomatic.

“We will also introduce measures to ensure First Nations can fully participate in the economic opportunities that are available,” he said.

“We will work with the First Nations to improve the on-reserve Income Assistance Program to ensure that young recipients have the incentives necessary to gain employment.”

Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said the budget does not do enough to mend the relationship between aboriginal people and the federal government.

“Budget 2013 makes reference to First Nations in almost every section, which suggests that the unprecedented attention and engagement of our peoples is beginning to be heard, but the investment just isn’t there,” said Mr. Atleo in a statement.

“The change First Nations seek will only be achieved once action matches words and we see fundamental reform of key polices and investments that make sense,” he said.

He had, however, previously called on the government to prioritize First Nation funding in the area of education and skills training, and, in that, the budget agreed.

The government is leaning on economic involvement, training and education for its response to aboriginal issues. “Equipping First Nations to fully participate in the economy is a priority for the Government and First Nations,” the budget proclaimed.

The budget also announced $10-million over two years for post-secondary scholarships and bursaries for First Nations and Inuit students, to encourage higher education; and $5-million over five years to expand an aboriginal business studies program at Cape Breton University, providing the school finds matching funds from the private sector.

The budget resurrects last year’s promise for new legislation, the First Nation Education Act, to be drafted in consultation with First Nations and aimed at improving aboriginal graduation rates. The budget also renews funding for First Nations policing, justice and family violence prevention programs and $155-million in First Nations infrastructure.

Bernard Valcourt, the new Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, was distancing the budget plans from suggestions it is a form of “Workfare,” the policy of making welfare recipients work for their benefits.

“Our approach will build on the success of pilot projects in parts of Canada like Saskatchewan and Ontario where we’re working with the provincial governments, First Nations and the private sector to link Aboriginals with the training they require to meet labour market needs,” said Jason MacDonald, spokesman for the minister.