Province Promises More Attention to Native Affairs

Province Promises More Attention to Native Affairs

Thursday, September 09, 2004 at 12:58

The provincial government plans to make the department of Aboriginal Affairs a stand-alone department by October 1st.

Right now, the department is tied in with Government Relations.

Aboriginal Affairs minister Maynard Sonntag says the time has come to signal to the rest of the province that First Nations and Metis issues are becoming more of a government priority.

Having said that, Sonntag says this isn’t just a symbolic gesture. He says the department will be paying more attention to Aboriginal economic development and public education.

The province has already hired a new deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs and plans to give the department a new name.

However, it’s not yet clear whether the department will receive any more government funding.