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For details about the Ontario Budget 2008 visit http://ontariobudget.ca/english/ 

Chiefs of Ontario Press Release 

Ontario Regional Chief calls Ontario Budget positive; Calls for Immediate Joint Action on Resource Sharing and Increasing Economic Opportunities for First Nations

TORONTO, March 26 - Yesterday, the Ontario government unveiled "Budget 2008: Growing a Stronger Ontario". This Budget follows a November 2007 Speech from the Throne that committed Ontario to forging "a stronger, more positive relationship with Ontario First Nations".

Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse stated that Minister Michael Bryant has demonstrated a willingness to work collaboratively with First Nations, although much work remains. "There is reason to be optimistic, however, there are serious outstanding issues that remain including the development of a formal mechanism to ensure First Nations are fully engaged and benefiting from resource development on their traditional territories" said Regional Chief Toulouse.

The Regional Chief pointed out that it was over two years ago that Ontario committed to engaging First Nations in discussions with respect to resource sharing. Toulouse emphasized that yesterday's Budget again committed Ontario to work with First Nations in identifying opportunities for sharing in the benefits of natural resource development. "This is a matter of utmost priority to First Nations, and government and industry are starting to realize that the way of doing business must change. First Nations need to be engaged from the beginning and have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits resulting from development on their territories" stated the Regional Chief.

"What the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug conflict with Platinex Inc. and Ontario shows is that First Nations will no longer sit idly by while development happens without any benefit to the First Nation, and without a voice in what happens. A new way of engaging and ensuring resource development benefits all parties is necessary, and I do believe that Ontario does recognize this necessity" said Regional Chief Toulouse.

The Budget also announced an increase in funding for the recently-created Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. The creation of a stand alone Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs was viewed positively by the First Nations in Ontario, and in fact had been a move advocated for many years by First Nations themselves. To First Nations the creation of this Ministry represented recognition by Ontario that First Nation issues are important and that they require much more attention than have been afforded them in the past. Regional Chief Toulouse emphasized that the creation and increase in funding for the new Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is needed, however, the benefits of such action must also be felt in First Nation communities. "There should also be clear benefits at the community level, not just growth in bureaucracy with no clear results" stated Chief Toulouse.

The Regional Chief indicated that some recent developments do show that progress is possible. "I was encouraged by the positive tone of the November 27, 2007 Speech from the Throne presented by Ontario. The First Nations were also pleased to conclude the Gaming Revenue Sharing Agreement in February. This demonstrated to me that with commitment and the necessary political will we can succeed in realizing win-win situations for First Nations and for Ontario" said the Regional Chief.

A key focus for First Nations in Ontario continues to be the implementation of the Final Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations. The Regional Chief pointed out that Ontario has clearly indicated that they are committed to working collaboratively with First Nations on the implementation of the recommendations. "The commitment to work collaboratively means joint planning and joint decision-making throughout the implementation process" stated the Regional Chief.

The Regional Chief indicated that developing a framework for resource revenue sharing and the establishment of a Reconciliation Fund are key recommendations that the First Nations in Ontario feel are matters of priority.

"We are not interested in temporary quick fixes. The focus needs to be on longer term, broader goals that will lead to economic stability and an improved quality of life in First Nation communities. This means dealing with the many unresolved land claims, a greater sharing of resource revenues, and increased economic opportunities. The First Nations in Ontario are interested in achieving self-sufficiency and economic sustainability. We want to move our communities out of poverty and toward prosperity, and we are calling on Ontario to work with us and truly "grow a stronger Ontario" because First Nations progress is Ontario's progress" said Regional Chief Toulouse.

For further information: Pam Hunter, (416) 597-1266 or Policy Advisor, (613) 203-3233

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From the Toronto Star

Funding for aboriginals nearly doubles

Mar 25, 2008 - THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO – Confronted with several contentious aboriginal land claims across the province, Ontario's Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs saw a substantial funding increase today in a provincial budget that earmarks $56 million next year for the newly created portfolio.

The new stand-alone ministry will receive an annual budget of about $50 million and will help guide more than $600 million in social, health, justice and job training programs for First Nations communities across the province.

The plan includes $4-million more annually for at-risk urban aboriginal children, and their families, for counselling and after-school activities and an additional $5 million next year for educational programs both for aboriginal students and to help raise awareness about First Nations, Metis and Inuit cultures in schools.

The new ministry, announced last year, saw its budget increased today by $21 million over last year.

"The government is committed to working with aboriginal peoples in Ontario, both on and off reserves, to expand economic development opportunities and improve their quality of life," Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said in his budget report.

"This includes the opportunity to engage aboriginal peoples in advancing the long-term sustainability of the Far North's communities, economy and environment, developing the Northern Growth Plan and identifying proposals for sharing in the benefits of natural resource development."

Duncan said he's "especially proud of the new $3-billion agreement to share gaming revenues over the next 25 years with Ontario's First Nations communities.

The first $201 million in payments began flowing last month and will provide Ontario First Nations with 1.6 per cent of provincial gaming revenues starting in 2011.

"These funds will provide a stable revenue source to Ontario First Nations and will support health, education, community, economic and cultural development," the report stated.

The establishment of the stand-alone ministry and increased support for aboriginal awareness programs flowed from recommendations in the May 2007 Ipperwash Inquiry report.

Still, the budget contained few details about spending commitments to help resolve several ongoing land claims disputes – another key recommendation out of Ipperwash and one that's plagued the Ontario Liberals in recent years.

Ironically, the dispute over a former housing development in Caledonia has cost the province some $50 million to police – a price tag that matches the annual budget allotted to the new Aboriginal Affairs Ministry.

While the dispute is nowhere near a resolution, the province has vowed to do everything it could to accelerate negotiations – much of which has involved pressing the federal government to do more.

Tension between the province and Ontario's First Nations communities erupted most recently after six Northern Ontario aboriginal leaders were jailed as part of an ongoing dispute with an exploration company.

Members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation near Thunder Bay said the province issued a permit to mining company Platinex Inc., for drilling on traditional land without first consulting the community.

The six leaders, which included the First Nations chief and deputy chief, were sentenced to six months jail for breach a court order to allow the work to proceed unobstructed. 

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Association of Municipalities of Ontario News Report on the Ontario Budget ...

Budget Provides an Additional $1 Billion for Municipal Infrastructure

Issue: Finance Minister Dwight Duncan today delivered the 2008-09 Provincial Budget.

Background:

The 2008 Provincial Budget, tabled in the Legislature today by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan contained a new $1 billion infrastructure investment package for municipalities including:

• $400 million for municipal roads and bridges to be allocated based on a municipality’s share of Ontario’s road network in relation to population;
• $497 million for public transit in the GTA;
• $100 million in funding for repairs to 4,000 social housing units (announced on March 17th).

This funding will be allocated to municipalities by the end of March 2008.

The Budget also includes a two per cent social assistance rate increase for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients. Municipalities will be shielded from these costs until January 2009. In 2009, the 2 per cent rate increase will cost municipalities approximately $20 million. The municipal impact will be reduced in 2010 and 2011 when the ODSP benefits are fully uploaded.

Other significant measures include:

• $30 million over four years for rural broadband expansion;
• An additional $30 million over four years for the Rural Economic Development (RED) program;
• $16 million to fund 35 projects which connect designated municipal roads with provincial highways;
• An acceleration of the Business Education Tax rate cuts for northern businesses.

The rate cut will result in savings of more than $70 million and advances the full effect of the cut by 4 years;

• Increasing the funding from $60 million in 2007-08 to $100 million in 2011-12, for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
• $1 billion over five years for a new Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant of up to $500 a year by 2010 for seniors with low and moderate incomes who own their homes;
• $16 million over four years to enhance the Ontario Property and Sales Tax Credit program to ensure that senior couples receiving the guaranteed minimum level of income from governments receive the full benefit of these credits this year; and
• Over $23 million in 2007-08 to support the development of source water protection plans in 19 Conversation Authorities across the province.

Consistent with the recommendations of the Provincial Ombudsman, the government will introduce legislation that would place the onus on MPAC to prove the accuracy of property assessments that are appealed to the Assessment Review Board (ARB).

The initiatives announced in today’s budget continue the transformation of fiscal arrangements between the Province and municipal governments emerging from the current Provincial Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery review. Those changes have included:

• The $935 million upload over four years of the costs of the provincial Ontario Drug Benefits (ODB) program and the provincial Ontario Disability Support Programs (ODSP).This important milestone was announced by Premier McGuinty at the 2007 AMO Conference.
• A $44 million Stable Funding Guarantee for the 2008 Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) allocation.
• The $450 million 2008 Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative (MIII), which will be distributed to municipalities by March 31, 2008.
• Bill 35, the Investing in Ontario Act, which if passed, would see municipal infrastructure benefit from any confirmed 2007-08 provincial budget surplus over an initial $600 million allocated to the provincial debt. This initiative could provide up to $2 billion in municipal infrastructure investment in 2008.

AMO commends the government for its much needed infrastructure investments and the uploading of significant social service program costs. These initiatives combined with today’s Budget speak to the objectives of the ongoing Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review.

Through the Review AMO is seeking to:

• secure sustainable, accountable, and transparent provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements;
• ensure that investment in municipal infrastructure meets the current and future needs of Ontarians; and
• improve the quality of municipally managed human services in Ontario.

The Review’s consensus-based report is expected in late June 2008.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario’s 445 municipal governments. AMO supports strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada’s political system.

This information is available in the Policy Issues section of the AMO website at www.amo.on.ca