Assembly of First Nations encouraged by discussions with first ministers on economic stimulus package
AFN press release ...
AFN National Chief Encouraged by Discussion with First Ministers
OTTAWA, Jan. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine issued the following statement in regards to the meeting of January 15 with the First Ministers on the Economy.
"I am encouraged by our discussions with the Prime Minister, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and provincial and territorial leaders yesterday evening. The themes in our plan were consistently and positively echoed by First Ministers around the table. Indian Affairs Minister Strahl himself stated that the AFN had 'set the bar' in terms of advancing constructive proposals for the federal budget to be tabled January 27 and noted the sentiment from First Ministers that 'good policy for Aboriginal people is good policy for Canada.'
The AFN's economic stimulus plan for First Nations calls for immediate action on First Nations infrastructure to create jobs for Canadians and safer, healthier communities for First Nations; First Nations education to secure a strong and competitive economy now and in the future; and a repayable loan fund to encourage partnerships between First Nations and the private sector and support economic development for First Nations and First Nations businesses. As well, we want a process that looks beyond the fiscal stimulus to deal with structural changes that will create a more effective and efficient way of addressing our issues.
As Ontario Premier McGuinty said, the upcoming federal budget must be not only about numbers. It must reflect this country's values. The budget must include First Nations and a plan to tackle poverty. The Prime Minister spoke strongly and movingly about the federal government's Apology to residential schools survivors last June. As we are now in a post-Apology era, the focus should be on reconciliation and a commitment to fairness for First Nations.
The Prime Minister has heard us. Minister Strahl has consulted widely with First Nations and has heard our voices. The provincial and territorial leaders have heard us. We will continue to build support for our plan and advocate strongly for action with the Prime Minister, the federal government and all Canadians in advance of the federal budget.
We are hopeful that the federal budget will reflect the widespread support for our plan and take action in the interests of First Nations and Canada."
Phil Fontaine
National Chief
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
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/For further information: Don Kelly, A/Communications Director, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 ext. 334 or cell: (613) 292-2787 or e-mail dkelly@afn.ca; Gina Cosentino, Government Relations, National Chief's Office, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 ext. 356 or e-mail gcosentino@afn.ca/
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Aboriginals pitch PM for budget billions
Jan 16, 2009
OTTAWA–The economic crisis offers an "unprecedented opportunity" to make overdue investments to tackle the serious problems facing Canada's aboriginal population, native leaders say.
The leaders met with the premiers and Prime Minister Stephen Harper here last night to make the case for a share of the stimulus package in the Jan. 27 budget.
Going into the meeting, Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations, unveiled a proposal to invest $3 billion in aboriginal priorities such as housing and education.
"Our big concern now is that we're in the middle of a crisis. Will we become an afterthought? I think that would be a real mistake," he told reporters.
He gave samples of aboriginal needs nationwide: 87,000 new housing units and 44,000 units in need of repair, 69 new schools and 95 awaiting repairs; 85 reserves requiring upgrades to water systems.
The proposal includes $1 billion in repayable loans to help kick-start aboriginal businesses, especially in the area of resource development on reserve lands.
In addition to the First Nations' $3 billion shopping list, Inuit representatives are seeking $1 billion from Ottawa and the Métis National Council has asked for $400 million.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said he hopes hard-hit native communities get – at a minimum – a fair share of federal infrastructure projects.
After the meeting, aboriginal leaders were optimistic, crediting Harper with "a significant shift" in his thinking and saying he promised the budget would deliver a sizeable commitment to help address their concerns.
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AFN press release ...
AFN National Chief Calling for a First Nations Economic Stimulus Package at Meeting with First Ministers
OTTAWA, Jan. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine will be presenting his plans for a First Nations economic stimulus package when he meets with First Ministers in Ottawa this evening.
"Canadians want action and the AFN has a plan," the National Chief said. "Our plan is practical, achievable and it makes good economic sense for all Canadians."
The AFN plan calls for a portion of the expected federal economic stimulus to target investments in three key areas:
- First Nations infrastructure;
- First Nations education;
- and support for partnerships between First Nations and the private sector through a repayable loan fund.
"Under our plan we can get shovels in the ground tomorrow," the National Chief stated. "We know where houses are needed, we know where schools are needed and we know which communities need safe drinking water. The problem is not an absence of information, it is an absence of action. Now is the time for action."
As an example, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that every $1 million invested in housing creates 5.4 years of direct employment and 18.2 years of indirect employment. First Natons currently require 87,000 new housing units to deal with overcrowding and unsafe conditions and 44,000 units that need repairs.
The National Chief said investments in education are important because First Nations are the youngest and fastest growing segment of the population.
"Canada's population is ageing at the same time as the First Nations population is coming of age," the National Chief said. "More than half our people are under the age of 25. We must invest in education and training for First Nations so Canada can remain a productive and competitive country. We literally cannot afford to lose this generation."
The AFN's proposed loan fund is designed to secure economic stability and growth. The federal government estimates that there will be $350 billion of economic activity and development in First Nations territories in the coming years.
"First Nations must be involved for these ventures to be successful," the National Chief said. "Our loan fund will support First Nations participation in this work as well as other economic development activities. These loans are repayable with interest so this will not be an expense for the Canadian government."
The AFN plan calls also for First Nations and government to work together on a long-term plan to turn First Nations poverty into prosperity.
"We understand how Canadians are feeling because First Nations have been in recession for years," the National Chief stated. "This crisis is unprecedented, yet it also presents and unprecedented opportunity to create a better quality of life for First Nations while creating jobs and a stronger economy for all Canadians. The message I will be taking to First Ministers is: strong First Nations make a stronger Canada."
The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
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/For further information: Don Kelly, A/Communications Director, Assembly of First Nations, (613) 241-6789 ext. 334, cell: (613) 292-2787, dkelly@afn.ca; Gina Cosentino, Government Relations and International Affairs National Chief"s Office, Assembly of First Nations, Cell: (613) 314-2661, gcosentino@afn.ca/
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From CBC.ca
Strahl cites focus on native housing, schools, job training
Canadian Press News - January 14, 2009
OTTAWA - Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl says native housing, new schools and skills training are targets for an aboriginal job-creation package to be included in the federal budget.
Strahl says native leaders and premiers set to hold pre-budget talks with the prime minister Thursday agree that action is needed fast - on and off reserves across Canada.
"I don't know what the budget numbers are going to end up being," Strahl said in an interview. "But I'm convinced that there's going to be money specifically set aside for aboriginal projects."
The recession-fighting blueprint, slated for release Jan. 27, is expected to drive Ottawa as much as $30 billion into the red.
Native leaders and premiers have repeatedly called for focused job training and so-called "shovel ready" projects like new houses and schools, said Strahl.
"There's a lot of interest in housing because (it's) seen as something you can do really quickly. There's a big need, and they don't have to go through some of the environmental assessments and so on that might be a problem for some other bigger projects."
Early in its first mandate the Harper government dismissed the $5.1-billion Kelowna Accord - reached between native leaders, the premiers and the former Liberal government after 18 months of negotiations - as an overblown "press release."
Successive Conservative budgets since then have included comparatively little new aboriginal spending.
But expectations are buoyed by what some leaders hope was a Conservative change of heart in 2008. Last June 11, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a moving apology for generations of racist policy in once-mandatory native residential schools.
Harper spoke of a new era in aboriginal relations. He described a fresh start based on "a respect for each other and a desire to move forward together with a renewed understanding that strong families, strong communities and vibrant cultures and traditions will contribute to a stronger Canada for all of us."
It remains to be seen whether such sentiments are backed by significant new cash for some of Canada's poorest communities.
The national Assembly of First Nations, representing 600 bands across the country, has asked for $3 billion over two years.
"There are over 40 communities without schools," says National Chief Phil Fontaine. "And there are a significant number of schools in a terrible state of repair. We have a housing crisis. We have 100 communities that don't have safe drinking water."
Fontaine says 87,000 new houses are needed on reserves, while some 40,000 need major work.
He and other native leaders met for more than an hour last week with Harper to press their case.
"In fact, I left the meeting quite hopeful that they actually were listening to us very carefully, and that they wouldn't abandon First Nations people," Fontaine said.
Chief Wilfred King of the Gull Bay First Nation, about 180 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., isn't convinced.
"I'm not optimistic at all. I think that just based on past budgets ... we'll probably see little benefit."
Unemployment in the community of about 450 people is between 60 and 80 per cent, King said.
Forty kids go to school in two portables with no gymnasium, computer room or science lab. Many families live in houses that should have been torn down years ago, the chief says.
His people are willing and have the skills to build new homes if Ottawa provides funding and local control.
It's hard to expect children raised in dilapidated houses and substandard schools to contribute much later, King said.
"I think the social costs of this will be enormous in years to come."