NAFC applauds federal budget commitments

March 22, 2016. On Tuesday, the Liberal Government announced the renewal of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy for the 2016-17 with $24 million in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. 

“This is a great relief to friendship centres and our partners. These investments will allow our centres to keep their doors open, delivering frontline services and expanding partnerships to meet the needs of the communities we serve every day,” said Nelson Mayer, president of the National Association of Friendship Centres and executive director of the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association in Edmonton. The NAFC is also encouraged by investments in community and cultural infrastructure through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, investments to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, funding increases to the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training strategy, and funding for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. “Since the majority of Indigenous people in Canada live in urban areas, we’re encouraged by commitments in this budget that seek to address the unique needs of Indigenous people in urban settings,” Jeffrey Cyr, NAFC executive director.