Paige Sweeney - The Eastern Eggplant
The Federal Government is committed to implementing all provisions of the 2005 Kelowna Accord. The proposed budget for this accord was $5.1 billion in 2005, which comes to approximately 6.2 billion in 2018 with inflation. This Accord was designed to “close the gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, with specific focuses on education, housing, economic opportunities and healthcare over the next 10 years. The Federal Government has also suggested implementing a Kelowna Accord committee. Many delegations believe this amount is too low considering circumstances on Indigenous reserves, and are pushing for more funding for the Kelowna Accord.
0 Comments
Yesterday, during discussions regarding Indigenous youth education on and off reserves, the Federal Government frequently reminded delegations that education was strictly a provincial matter.
While it is true that public education is a provincial responsibility, the Federal Government’s responsibilities include the funding of Indigenous education on reserves. Paige Sweeney - The Eastern Eggplant
The Federal Government effectively facilitated a progressive and collaborative discussion this morning regarding education for Indigenous youth. As stated in their position paper, the Federal Government will be allocating $750 million annually to promote and establish educational institutions on First Nations reserves. Delegates respectfully posed questions and concerns relating to the education of Indigenous youth, and the Federal Government responded to the best of their abilities. Paige Sweeney - The Eastern Eggplant
Although there are minor variations between the recently released Indigenous Affairs positions papers, nearly every delegation embodies similar philosophies, and have reached common conclusions regarding the implementation of recommendations from the TRC in accordance with UNDRIP. With the exception of one. Paige Sweeney - The Eastern Eggplant
The Ontario delegation recently released its 2018 position paper for the annual Federal Provincial Conference. As the largest province in Canada, we would expect Ontario to play a leadership role in the adoption of the principles found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. At first glance, the Indigenous Affairs Minister’s sentiments appear promising. The Ontario delegation promises to “continue to revise and update the current educational curriculum in order to reflect the history of Indigenous peoples in Ontario and Canada”, “aid First Nations by providing greater access to education” and “invest $750 million each year toward establishing institutions to promote the education of Indigenous youth.” These statements, however, couldn’t be farther from the truth. |
Meet the TeamPaige Sweeney |