The federal government is reviewing funding for First Nations post secondary education, a priority area agreed amongst all chiefs across Canada.
Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Chief Shawn Alteo proposed a new education stimulus of $500 million a year placing $180 million in capital investments and additional funds for the post secondary support program. These investments aim to close the education gap between the general Canadian population and First Nations in Canada. Canada will require a skilled workforce in the future which this funding will be put towards said Mr. Atleo.
An additional $8.5 million in annual core funding will be provided for national aboriginal organizations such as the AFN, the National Aboriginal Healing Organization and the Native Womens’ Association – which are also in involved.
As the First Nation population has increased, funds to support 30,000 First Nations students has lessened.
First Nations communities are concerned that education funding will be used for less community focused activities handed off to third party organizations providing little response to aboriginal issues or for loan creation – an area where First Nations organizations were advised to save money in areas by loan organizations such as the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs audit committee was scrutinized last year citing improper tracking of monies and unfair hand outs.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper advocates for improving First Nations education.
“We want to ensure that all First Nations and Inuit learners have access to education that encourages them to stay in school, to graduate, and gives them the skills they need to enter the labour market,” states a spokeswoman for Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.
The AFN stood down on pleas for improved social housing, health care and infrastructure, focusing on improving post secondary opportunities with supporting chiefs.
Using strong Conservative phrases, Atleo recommended that Ottawa produce 65,000 First Nation post secondary graduates and build 60 new schools within the upcoming five years.
The government is preparing to process a strategic overview of spending as a quarter of the governments’ organizations were told to overlook their costs and earmark five per cent for re-allocation elsewhere.
Unfortunately, in the last two years, the government has only re-allocated roughly 2.5 percent of target funds of the five per cent announced; the government will be seeking to improve tracking components of the budget this week.
Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Chief Shawn Alteo proposed a new education stimulus of $500 million a year placing $180 million in capital investments and additional funds for the post secondary support program. These investments aim to close the education gap between the general Canadian population and First Nations in Canada. Canada will require a skilled workforce in the future which this funding will be put towards said Mr. Atleo.
An additional $8.5 million in annual core funding will be provided for national aboriginal organizations such as the AFN, the National Aboriginal Healing Organization and the Native Womens’ Association – which are also in involved.
As the First Nation population has increased, funds to support 30,000 First Nations students has lessened.
First Nations communities are concerned that education funding will be used for less community focused activities handed off to third party organizations providing little response to aboriginal issues or for loan creation – an area where First Nations organizations were advised to save money in areas by loan organizations such as the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs audit committee was scrutinized last year citing improper tracking of monies and unfair hand outs.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper advocates for improving First Nations education.
“We want to ensure that all First Nations and Inuit learners have access to education that encourages them to stay in school, to graduate, and gives them the skills they need to enter the labour market,” states a spokeswoman for Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.
The AFN stood down on pleas for improved social housing, health care and infrastructure, focusing on improving post secondary opportunities with supporting chiefs.
Using strong Conservative phrases, Atleo recommended that Ottawa produce 65,000 First Nation post secondary graduates and build 60 new schools within the upcoming five years.
The government is preparing to process a strategic overview of spending as a quarter of the governments’ organizations were told to overlook their costs and earmark five per cent for re-allocation elsewhere.
Unfortunately, in the last two years, the government has only re-allocated roughly 2.5 percent of target funds of the five per cent announced; the government will be seeking to improve tracking components of the budget this week.
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