NDP Complains Budget Does Little For Metis
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 17:05
The NDP MLA for Athabasca says he’s disappointed with the government’s financial plan announced today.
Buckley Belanger says not enough specifics are laid out by the Saskatchewan Party government on what it will do to fix northern roads and address housing concerns.
Belanger also says the environment appears to have been largely ignored in the budget, along with a large portion of the northern population.
He says First Nations people got a few mentions in the budget, but there were only a couple of “vague” references to the Metis.
Among other things, the budget calls for the creation of 300 new on-reserve Adult Basic Education training seats to be offered through regional colleges and SIIT.
A total of $11.3 million has been set aside to complete roads to Witchekan Lake, the access road to Red Earth, improvements to Highway 55 and the Cyr Road near Big River.
Another $6.1 million from the Northern Roads Strategy has been committed for work on the Garson Lake Road and the Wollaston Lake all-weather road.
Meanwhile, $26.2 million is budgeted for the continued renewal of the province’s forest firefighting fleet (up from $11.8 million last year), as well as funds to replace fire towers in northern Saskatchewan.
Churchill High in La Ronge is one of a handful of schools that have been selected for major capital improvements this year.
Funds have also been set aside to hire a second medical health officer for northern Saskatchewan, plus two additional doctors.
Money is also being devoted to replace the FleetNet service with a new emergency communications system.
The government is also devoting $3 million for the First Nations and Metis Consulation capacity fund (up from $2 million last year).
Another $5 million has been earmarked for skills training offered by food banks and community-based organizations.
As well, $5.1 million is being set aside for new beds at detox centres in Prince Albert and Regina.