Heritage Department Freezes Metis Funding

Heritage Department Freezes Metis Funding

Thursday, November 25, 2004 at 14:15

Saskatoon-Wanuskewin MP Maurice Vellacott says he’s received verbal assurances that the federal Heritage department will not release any more funds to the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan until a new election is held.

Vellacott apparently got the promise from Heritage Minister Liza Frulla after questioning her about the matter yesterday in the House of Commons.

Vellacott asked Frulla why the Heritage Department released $500,000 to the MNS this year in spite of the findings in the Lampard report.

Frulla replied that the process for releasing the funds had already been started by the time the Lampard report was released.

The MNS is still waiting to hear if the federal minister in charge of Metis issues will release 1.2 million dollars in funding to the organization for post-Powley initiatives.