Social assistance rates maintained on reserves

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With the British Columbia government cutting back on social assistance payments, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is following suit, but because of the unique funding arrangement with Nuu-chah-nulth, "on-reserve" recipients will not see a change in their rates.

"Through the federal transfer agreement, the Nuu-chah-nulth administer social assistance through block funding," said Community & Health Services' Acting Senior Manager Simon Read.

"Those who live away from home are under the provincial system, so they've seen the cuts in their cheques, and as a result many people are starting to move home," he said.

The cuts to provincial welfare rates have caused a terrible domino effect across the province. In the case of First Nations, many people were forced to move to urban centres because of the lack of housing and employment opportunities on rural reserves. Now, because of scarce jobs and expensive housing in the urban centres, and the cuts to social assistance rates, many people are trying to return to reserves that are already overcrowded and under-funded.

Nuu-chah-nulth leaders voted overwhelmingly at the last tribal council meeting to maintain social assistance rates for the balance of the fiscal year, and have directed staff to analyze the effect that provincial cuts will have on Nuu-chah-nulth communities.

Read said a survey and report to the board will be completed this month.

"The board will then make recommendations that we hope to present for discussion at the next (tribal council) meeting in January," he said.

According to Read, the rate changes put added pressure on leaders who are currently renegotiating the federal transfer agreement, which is set to expire in March of 2003.

The Nuu-chah-nulth leaders have directed the tribal council executive to take whatever steps necessary to oppose rate changes, and to work with other advocacy groups to protect people in need.