Conservative gov't cut $127 million from FN reserve housing since '08

APTN National NewsOTTAWA–The Conservative government has cut $127 million from First Nations reserve housing since 2008, the Liberals charged in the House of Commons Tuesday.
Toronto Liberal MP and Aboriginal affairs critic Carolyn Bennett said the latest government numbers show that money invested for First Nations reserve housing is hundreds of millions of dollars below 2008 levels.
“How can the minister defend that yesterday’s budget cuts funding to Aboriginal housing by $127 million below budget 2008, before the(Economic Action Plan),” said Bennett, referring to the government’s stimulus program. “Where is the concerted action?”
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan appeared to have been caught off guard by the question and had no specific response.
“Our government is building on its impressive record in major investments and unprecedented collaboration with Aboriginals to increase educational outcomes for First Nations children and to address priority areas such as water and waste water infrastructure,” said Duncan.
Former Liberal leader and Quebec Liberal MP Stephane Dion then discarded his planned question and pounced on Duncan, demanding an answer.
“Could the minister respond to the question?” said Dion.
Duncan simply repeated some of the highlights in the budget, including funding to help First Nations bands manage reserve lands, deal with the division of on-reserve assets following divorces or deaths, and investments to complete the last leg of the Dempster Highway in the Northwest Territories.
“It got good reviews from the national Aboriginal leaders and that’s good for Canadians,” said Duncan.
Duncan’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the Liberal’s claim.
Bennett said in a separate interview that the cut is based on Public Accounts numbers from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for spending on-reserve housing.
The numbers showed that CMHC spent $282.325 million in 2008-2009, and $156.340 million in 2011-2012.
Bennett said the spending may have gone up during the government’s Economic Action Plan stimulus spending, but the latest numbers show that on-reserve housing has been hit with a cut.
She said it was surprising Duncan couldn’t respond to the claim.
“He has to defend what he thinks is more important than housing on-reserve and why money got stolen from there and moved somewhere else,” said Bennett. “I hope they understand that we are serious and if he can explain it, great.”