THeBlueCashew

QuoteThe premise is simple enough. How much money does the federal government actually spend on Aboriginal issues?



That's the scope of Mark Milke's latest report for the Fraser Institute. But we're going to take a wild guess that what people take from that information is far from simple.



After all, "Ever Higher: Government spending on Canada's Aboriginals since 1947" is tackling one of the most emotionally charged issues on Canada's domestic policy landscape.



Broadly speaking, there are two opinions on the matter.



First, that Aboriginal Canadians don't receive enough money. This has been voiced by Assembly of First Nations leaders over the years, politicians like Bob Rae and Paul Martin and various activists.



Then there are those -- usually the taxpayer -- who feel like enough money goes towards what they view as an ongoing mess.



But what does "enough" even mean? As Milke notes, "'Enough' is a value-laden term, impossible to quantify empirically." So let's have the numbers do the talking.



From 1946 to 2011, Aboriginal affairs spending increased 99-fold, adjusted for inflation. In 2013 dollars, it grew from $79 million to $7.9 billion.



Per person that's an increase of $922 in 1949 to $9,056 in 2011. A whopping 882% increase.



For comparison's sake, what about spending on all Canadians? To be fair, government in general has grown over the decades.



Federal spending per person has gone from $1,054 to $7,316 in the same period. A 387% increase. Ouch. That in itself is a massive expansion of government.



The study also records Aboriginal spending from provincial governments, Health Canada (like $219.1 million spent in 2011 on dental care that the rest of Canadians don't have access to) and Employment and Social Development Canada.



There are also pockets of funding that weren't covered for various reasons. In other words, the figures about are a conservative estimate.



So, yes, 'enough' is a hard term to define. But if funding has increased by over 800%, you've got to ask why so many rudimentary problems persist on reserves.



Forget about what is being spent. Let's ask how it's being spent.



We're reminded that Deloitte found Attawapiskat didn't have proper records for 80% of the financial transactions analyzed.



We all deserve better.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/12/13/we-all-deserve-smarter-spending

QuoteIt saddens us to be weighing in on this subject once again. Another First Nations council is alleged to be misusing funds.



Only last weekend we used this editorial space to discuss First Nations finances.



We noted: "We're reminded that Deloitte found Attawapiskat didn't have proper records for 80% of the financial transactions analyzed. We all deserve better."



We'll forget about all of us deserving better this time around. Let's just focus on the regular folks on the reserves.



Because the allegations revealed this week against the leadership of Big Island First Nation in Saskatchewan are shocking.



A handwritten note was sent to Ottawa claiming that the chief and councillors used social assistance money meant for regular band members for their personal expenses, according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press.



It's claimed they spent it on vehicles, horses and trailers for themselves.



The documents also allege "that band members who are listed as social-assistance recipients never filed an application and never received social-assistance funds."



The government is currently investigating.



All of this is unproven right now. But, if the allegations prove to be true, this is the lowest of the low.



A few illegitimate expense claims is one thing. Spending welfare money meant for other people on personal frills is another.



What do we do?



For starters, if it's proven, those responsible need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.



Then we need to have a mature conversation about processes on reserve.



In the documents retrieved by the Canadian Press, it's clear the chief wasn't that co-operative in this process. Phone calls weren't returned.



But more importantly, Big Island's elections are "custom." Which means they don't follow any sort of structure as outlined by Elections Canada or any other objective body. They make it up as they go along. No electoral standards opens the door to fraud, cronyism, nepotism, etc.



Some Canadians don't want to speak out against Aboriginal leadership.



But all their silence does is turn a blind eye to the regular folks living on reserves who don't call the shots, don't have the power and have nowhere to turn.



The handwritten letter notes the school is in disrepair and "we have no money for payroll or social assistance."



If true, it's unacceptable.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/12/18/help-regular-folks-on-reserves

Quote from: "Odinson"No charity, shen li!

Quote from: "Shen Li"

Quote from: "Odinson"No charity, shen li!

It's not something you would understand unless you live in this country. Americans and Aussies would understand as they have similar(but not the same) situations.

QuoteFirst Nations, who probably hold the key to whether this pipeline will ever be built, predictably vowed renewed opposition."