Martin budget offers little to First Nations

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Was that "a priority like never before" or "never a priority, just like before?"

The first quote is from the Throne Speech and represents Prime Minister Paul Martin's promise to make First Nation needs a front-burner issue for his government. The second quote is what many First Nations' people are wondering after hearing Martin's first budget as prime minister.

As Martin's Finance Minister Ralph Goodale stood to begin the budget speech at just after 4 p.m. Ottawa time on March 23, it quickly became apparent that First Nations were not going to be the priority the Liberal government claimed they would be in February's Throne Speech.

With a federal election looming, the Liberal finance minister sought to assure Canadians that he is closing the loopholes his party has used to funnel money to its friends. He announced that new financial oversight processes will be established and that certified professionals only will review government spending. He also re-established a comptroller general to keep watch over government expenditures.

"And we will strengthen financial management and operational integrity within government because Canadians deserve the utmost in accountability, transparency and value for their hard-earned tax dollars. That is why we are announcing today a comprehensive plan, under the leadership of the president of the Treasury Board, for a modern expenditure management and oversight system aimed at preventing the kinds of financial abuses that have so understandably angered Canadians. As a government, we not only accept our responsibility for what went wrong, we also accept our responsibility to get it right," Goodale said.

While there were few noteworthy items for Aboriginal people in the budget, one item could end up having a negative effect on funding levels. A cabinet committee is conducting a government-wide review of all departments. Goodale's goal is to identify $1 billion in savings. If some of those savings are in the Department of Indian Affairs, then First Nations could be net losers from the budget.

"We will reorganize and bolster the internal audit function on a government-wide basis to ensure comprehensive audit programs, based on sound risk analyses of all departmental activities, with the authority to delve into every corner of every portfolio, no matter how small or seemingly 'special,'" the finance minister said. "The review is not about cutting. It's about finding the money to do something new."

He said the modest budget was required because 2003 was such a hard year with the SARS crisis, Hurricane Juan in the Maritimes, out-of-control forest fires in British Columbia and the BSE crisis that devastated the Canadian cattle industry. Just the day before the budget, Agriculture Minister Bob Speller announced a $1 billion aid package for beef producers.

It was just over 40 minutes into the speech before Goodale announced something that directly affected Aboriginal people. He announced that the government's urban Aboriginal strategy would see its funding almost double from $25 million over three years to $50 million over four years.

"[A] significant percentage of Aboriginal people live off reserve, often in urban centres where they face unique challenges and pressures. Through the Urban Aboriginal Strategy, this government is working with communities across the country to find solutions to these challenges," he said.

He also announced funding for the Independent Centre for First Nations Government, an institution that will work to improve governance structures for First Nations.

Goodale also renewed an existing program.

"Canada's Aboriginal population is young-50 per cent are under the age of 25. To ensure that this generation receives every opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for success, we are renewing funding for the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy," he said.

The finance minister also announced funding for a progam that he said will create employment in the North.

"Mr. Speaker, few things have a greater impact on the quality of life in our communities than the quality of our environment. This generation has both the responsibility and the opportunity to leave this land better than we found it, and that means cleaning up polluted sites," he said. "This clean-up will have long-term benefits, leaving a healthier environment for our children and our children's children. But it will also have immediate benefits, providing employment and training opportunities, especially for Aboriginals in the North."

Although it was not mentioned in the speech, significant funding for Metis issues was announced by Finance officials.

Clement Chartier, president of the Metis National Council, applauded the inclusion of a Metis-specific package in the budget that he said will be used to begin addressing the implications of the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark Metis right ruling in R. v. Powley; however, he stressed that when it comes to dealing fairly with the Metis Nation "there is a long way to go."

"We take today's Metis-specific budget inclusion as another positive sign that a Paul Martin government wants to truly bring in a new era of respect and partnership between the Metis Nation and Canada," Chartier said. "It is important for the federal government to understand that the job ahead of us is difficult and complex and the journey has just begun. The Metis Nation is coming out of a century of marginalization and the steps that have been taken so far are only the first on the long road ahead."

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Phil Fontaine said he was "disappointed" with the federal budget.

"While the resources proposed are clearly needed, they are not enough," he said. "I am disappointed with the lack of action on urgent priorities like housing, health, economic development and education."

The disappointment was caused, Fontaine said, by the government' words in the Throne Speech.

"The speech from the throne recognized the 'shameful' conditions facing our people. What more compelling reason do we need to take immediate action? We can wait until the current non-system implodes or engage now in a much-needed overhaul of the entire system. We should be investing now to foster self-reliance instead of making payments that simply sustain a dysfunctional system," he said.

Fontaine called on the government to sit down immediately with the AFN and begin to formulate a global plan to improve the conditions faced by First Nations' people.

"The lack of any new resources in the critical fields of health, education and economic development may very well signal that the federal government does not have a plan. We want to work in partnership to clear the ground so we are ready to move when the real investment happens," he said. "We must not only make use of existing resources, but ensure that new resources are made available. We can set up a process to clarify our responsibilities so we can make the greatest gains when new resources arrive.

"The auditor general has pointed to problems in co-ordinating jurisdictions and responsibilities in First Nations housing. The same work needs to happen in areas like education and the situation of our citizens living off-reserve. We need to clarify who is responsible for what and ensure all the key players are co-ordinated."

Fontaine said he has not seen any sign that a holistic and co-ordinated plan to address First Nation issues exists.

"The scatter-shot approach of sprinkling dollars around various programs and initiatives does not serve our people well and is not a cost-effective approach. We need a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach that recognizes the links between effective and meaningful self-government and health, health and education and education and economic development. They are all interrelated.

"A comprehensive plan is the only way to stem the tide of overty and actually move forward on the road to self-reliance and self-determination. This builds stronger First Nations and a stronger Canada," said the national chief.

Off-reserve groups offered their impressions of the budget.

Dwight Dorey, leader of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, didn't give it a rave review.

"I know that some of the budget pronouncements represent extensions of existing programming," Dorey said, "but at least there is a growing federal government focus on off-reserve, urban Aboriginal people, and that is somewhat encouraging."

The National Association of Friendship Centres wasn't as kind.

"While we recognize that the federal government has diminished resources, we are still disappointed to see no significant funding targeted to urban Aboriginal people," said president Vera Pawis Tabobondung.

The centre's press release quoted from the budget speech.

"For many Aboriginal Canadians, access to education, training and employment is an important reason to live in urban centres. Yet too many Aboriginal Canadians remain on the margins of the local economy and community," the release states, quoting Ralph Goodale.

"Unfortunately, nothing in this budget changes that," Pawis Tabobondung added.