Neilsen report criticized

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OTTAWA - The Nielsen Report review on program delivery to Native people has been described by its critics as "dangerous," "offensive" and "completely out of touch with the reality of Native life in this country."

To let you decide for yourself here are a few of the suggestions made in the report.

On Native Housing:

The report suggests that the government develop a new housing program that "ensures that there is no incentive through housing to remain on reserves with no long-run economic potential."

The report also suggests that minimal standards be set for infrastructure (water and sewer, power, fire prevention, etc.) and that any reserve wanting better services than that be forced to raise money for them. The study group goes so far as to admit that "non-economic reserves that could not afford sophisticated infrastructure would have to make do with what they could afford, although below minimum health standards could result," but implies that this would just be too bad.

On Native Health Care:

The report suggests "that the government consider...reduction of the cost of non-insured health services, primarily through the administration of a needs-test type of procedures...closing of Indian hospital facilities which duplicate those being provided by provinces or municipalities (starting with the one at Cardston), and...elimination of health consultation funding to Indian and Inuit associations."

The report also suggests that any Native health units in major urban or northern provincial centres be financed by Native people themselves.

On Education:

The report proposes that EPF (Established Program Funding) for post-secondary education be cut because this is "double funding." The report also suggests that the government should look into the "overall economies that could be achieved by revision of student assistance and the elimination of the present guidance-counselling program." The revision of assistance for Native post-secondary students would include the ending of much of the grants for their education and their replacement with loans and bursaries.