FNUC Dealt Major Blow
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 15:27
There will be no federal funding to the First Nations University.
That’s according to the province’s Advanced Education Minister, Rob Norris.
Norris met with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl yesterday morning.
Norris says a signed agreement between the U of R and the First Nations University on a new administration plan would have helped the cause — but a lack of a deal “constrained the conversation”.
According to Norris, a formal agreement is also important for discussions related to provincial funding of the FNUC.
He also stresses that the $7.2 million that was to go to the FNUC should stay in the province for other programs.
Randy Lundy is the Academic Council Chair for the FNUC.
Lundy says the FNUC cannot run on “proposal-based funding”, and there won’t be a university in the fall unless Ottawa restores the funding immediately.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff was in Regina last night for a town hall-style meeting, and when asked about the federal government’s position, said the wider issue is “what this says about the commitment to Aboriginal education, period”.