Friendship centres stunned by possible cuts

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Staff at Native friendship centres across the country are in a state of shock after learning that up to 75 per cent of their funding may be cut by the federal government.

There has even been talk of eliminating all core funding to the 99 friendship centres currently supported by the federal Heritage Ministry.

"It's absolutely unconscionable to cut funding to a program that has provided so much benefit to Aboriginal people and the Canadian mosaic in general," said Marc Maracle, executive director of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

"It's a real kick to Aboriginal people. If you look at any socio-economic indicator, Aboriginal people are at the bottom 20 or 30 per cent. This is going to come on the backs of the people who can least afford it."

Maracle said friendship centres are already strained to their financial limits. During the last three years of the Mulroney government cut funding to the centres by 10 per cent. Maracle said he was surprised the Liberals are considering making more cuts because before the election they promised to restore the funds which the Tories had shaved off.

Last year, 99 Native friendship centres shared $17 million in Heritage money. The cuts are outlined in an internal Heritage Ministry document leaked to a provincial association of Native friendship centres in late November. The ministry is in the middle of planning next year's budget and must make a five-per-cent cut in its spending to meet Prime Minister Jean Chretien's deficit-cutting objectives.

In the leaked document, Heritage bureaucrats kick around several options: cutting friendship centre funding anywhere from 25 to 75 per cent, or eliminating it entirely.

The last option isn't seen as wise. It would mean the "loss of a recognized, experienced and respected urban Aboriginal infrastructure which could play a significant role in the implementation of the government's self-government agenda in urban areas," says the leaked document.

The bureaucrats also worry that such a move could further "marginalize" the 700,000 Natives who don't live on reserves and even provoke "social unrest" and "increased political activism."

As well, the document says there would be "no net savings" because other government departments and local agencies would have to step in to provide the same services. The document estimates 1,800 jobs would be lost at the centres.

But the leaked document seems just as critical of the idea of cutting 25 per cent of the centres' funds. Such a move would be a public relations disaster, would increase unemployment and simply shift the burden of providing services to urban Natives to other departments.

In its recommendations, Heritage bureaucrats say the friendship centre program has "demonstrated its efficiency" and suggest staff at the centres should have better pay and work conditions.

But the final decision is up to Heritage Minister Michel Dupuy, who is near the end of finalizing next year's budget plan. Heritage spokesman Alain Garceau did not respond to a request for an interview.

Len Taylor, the NDP's Aboriginal affairs critic, said the Liberals are seriously considering major cutbacks despite the assessment of the Heritage bureaucrats. He called on the government to leave the centres' funding intact and even increase it.

"The centres probably prevent spending of money through other programs like welfare, justice and even education. So why not provide it to the centres in the first place, where it can do the most good."