Swift reaction to budget

The federal budget was brought down by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on March 22, and the reaction from First Nations leaders has been swift.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn A-in-chut
Atleo said the budget holds nothing for First Nations people. What he was looking for in the budget was a new approach that would ensure equitable opportunity, stability and safety for First Nation citizens and communities.

“First Nations continue our calls for a new approach that will transform the funding relationship between First Nation and Canada in a way that will support progress and productivity for our citizens and communities,” said Atleo.

“The current funding relationship undermines our abilities to plan, predict and effectively oversee critical service areas that provide safety and security in our communities.

“First Nation citizens do not enjoy the same level of service provided to Canadians by their governments and we do not have the same guarantee of stable funding transfers. Instead, we are subject to arbitrary allocations
that are not guided by any overall plan and that do not match our urgent, pressing needs. In a budget aimed at ‘stability’, we still do not see a stable and sustainable
approach and we will continue to advance a First Nations-driven plan for progress.”

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy
said the budget doesn’t address the critical issues facing NAN First Nations.

“The Harper government has failed to recognize where the real needs are. We see no investments to ensure long-term sustainability for NAN communities. The over
$500 million commitment through Canada’s Economic Action Plan does not address the infrastructure needs within Northern Ontario when you consider the funding is intended to support First Nations across Canada,” said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy.

“The budget included a commitment for an all-season
road in Northwest Territories, but what about Northern Ontario? We have been lobbying for allweather roads to connect our remote NAN communities and have not seen anything from the federal government. We once again see no real commitment to strengthen and improve NAN
First Nations. As the gap continues to widen between First Nations and the larger society it will create noticeable and costly social burden.”

The AFN said the 2011 federal budget included modest
references to a joint effort to arrive at “concrete and positive changes in First Nation education to bring greater success and opportunities for First Nation students,” but the organization complained that the committment did not include any investment. The
budget also committed an additional $30 million over two
years to the First Nation Policing Program. Lastly, $22 million is allocated for environmental safety standards and $8 million for deployment of clean energy
technologies.

Budget 2011 invests $22 million over two years to help
First Nations ensure that the fuel tanks that power their essential community services, such as water and waste water treatment systems, schools and community buildings, meet new environmental safety standards.

Many remote and rural First Nations communities that are
off-grid rely on fuel tanks to
power their essential
infrastructure.
“This investment will assist First Nations to upgrade or replace their fuel tank infrastructure and contribute to a cleaner environment on reserve as well as to improved health and safety for on-reserve residents,” reads the budget.

The budget is also proposing to provide $8 million over two years to promote the deployment of clean energy technologies in Aboriginal and Northern communities to reduce their reliance on non-renewable fuels over time.

The government is also proposing to reallocate up to an additional $20 million over two years as part of its ongoing support for the First Nations Land Management regime which allows participating First Nations to make laws in relation to their reserve lands and resources.