At least three First Nations communities that received money from Ottawa this week to renovate and build new schools supported the First Nations Education Act.

The Flying Dust First Nation, Whitecap Dakota Nation and the Miawpukek Mi’kmaq First Nation were willing to support the Education Act.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt says his department never considered this when the decisions were made on who would get funded.

“I don’t know. There’s no correlation between whether or not they supported the bill or the grant of money to build a school or improve a school.”

A total of 11 First Nations communities across the country will receive money to renovate or build a new school.