Funding cuts hit federal programs

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The federal government confirmed late last month that it has slashed funding for Native economic development.

The government spending estimates announced in the House of Commons Feb. 26 confirmed details of the 10-per-cent budget cuts to Native programs promised in Finance Minister Don Mazankowski's December mini-budget.

The estimate confirmed:

- Friendship centres across Canada were cut 10 per cent. Department estimates from the Secretary of State show a drop of $2 million, from $19.8 million to $17.8 million, putting funding levels below the 1990 cutback levels.

- The Northern Native Broadcast Access Program, also funded through the Secretary of State, was chopped $1 million, from $11.2 million to $10.1 million, bringing it below 1990 levels.

The Canadian Aboriginal Economic Development Strategy also lost out. Spending estimates for the three departments responsible for the program, the Department of Industry, Science and Technology Canada, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission, show an average funding drop of seven per cent for Native economic development.

DIAND reported a cut of $54 million to Native programs. A breakdown shows:

- DIAND'S 's share of community economic development programs was cut by $20 million.

- Capital facilities and maintenance was cut by $16 million.

- Funding for Native political organizations was cut back to $10 million, one-half of their 1989 levels.

- Specific claims were reduced $6 million.

- Cultural centres lost $1 million.

- Core grants and policy develop lost $1 million.

The Industry, Science and Technology Canada contribution to Native economic development programs was cut by almost $6 million.

Funding for the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission's Pathways to Success, an employment training program for Natives, was the only Canadian Aboriginal Economic Development Strategy program not cut, a DIAND spokesman said.

Assembly of First Nations Alberta Regional chief Jerome Morin said the cuts will drastically affect First Nations funding. Taking away the already meagre amounts of social services funding will only push the government's commitment further out of wack.

"You don't keep feeding people fish, you teach them how to fish," he said.

Funding to the First Nations economic development is also used as a lever to acquire additional monies from non-government sources, he said. Cutting back funds means lost revenue from other sources.

Federal government officials should also visit reserves to see the Third World conditions that many Natives live in before they make the cuts, he said.

"They can't take food off our table. We're already starving."

AFN spokesperson Karen Isaac said she was also surprised by the level of the cuts, especially after Prime Minister Brian Muilroney said last fall that he wanted to increase the number of Native businesses by 5,000, bringing the total to 10,000.

The AFN is currently analyzing the extent of the cuts to see how far they go, she said.