Ottawa Urged To Change Native Funding Practices

Ottawa Urged To Change Native Funding Practices

Friday, January 18, 2008 at 15:05

 

 

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples has released a lengthy report calling for a change in how government funds are awarded to Aboriginal groups.

 

Leader Patrick Brazeau says the government needs to begin basing its Aboriginal programming dollars on a results-basis formula.

 

The congress’ 293-page report calls on Ottawa to stop funding organizations that can’t demonstrate results for Aboriginal people.

 

The paper says countless dollars have flowed to reserves for too long without the government knowing where the money ends up.

 

Brazeau says more and more Native people are moving to the cities, and that’s where more dollars should be spent.

 

The congress’ document also says, among other things, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs should be amalgamated with other agencies and called the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

 

It also says there shouldn’t be a difference in how Aboriginal people across the land are treated by Ottawa.

 

The report also says that basing programs on distinctions between First Nations, Metis and Onuit may someday be a thing of the past due to court rulings like the Powley, Corbiere and McIvor decisions.