First Nations leaders say the recent federal budget is a step in the right direction.
The Trudeau Liberals announced $8.4 billion in spending for aboriginal families and communities across Canada. $2 billion of that will go to provide clean water on reserves, while $555 million will repair and build new nursing stations in First Nations communities.
National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Dwight Dorey says they are looking forward to hearing details. “And what this is actually going to translate to for the benefit of 1.1 million off reserve aboriginal people in the country.”
He says the big figures being thrown around are encouraging, but they don’t mean much to people on the ground. “They have no commitment for administrative dollars, so this is where we will be looking and going directly to the department and asking the questions; how do we fit into this.”
Dorey noted that the fact that much of the funding is channelled through the provinces may complicate things for some communities.