FSIN Chief Puzzled With Provincial Budget

FSIN Chief Puzzled With Provincial Budget

Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 13:03

 

 

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Lawrence Joseph says yesterday’s budget makes no sense.

 

Joseph acknowledges that the Saskatchewan Party’s financial blueprint does call for a 50 per cent increase to a First Nations and Metis consultation fund.

 

However, he’s dismayed that several other government Aboriginal programs are seeing slight or significant funding reductions –including the First Nations and Metis Business Development Program, which has been slashed in half.

 

The cuts will help the government eliminate at least seven positions in First Nations and Metis Relations.

 

Joseph says Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer talked about First Nations’ involvement in the economy in yesterday’s budget speech, but Joseph wonders where the dollars are to back that statement up.

 

The chief is also disappointed that this comes when others are benefitting from the province’s current economic boom.

 

Joseph says he doesn’t want to be confrontational, but he hopes to meet with Gantefoer to have him explain why the budget has “absolutely zero as far as First Nations are concerned”.

 

He also says the FSIN could use core funding.