The Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde spoke up in support Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s first big-ticket campaign promise – made in Saskatoon – this week.
Trudeau has been in the Saskatchewan for several days, and has spent a significant portion of that speaking about aboriginal issues.
On Thursday, the Liberals promised to spend billions on improving First Nations education at a campaign stop in Saskatoon.
He vowed to close the education funding gap by making a new investment of $515 million a year in core annual funding for First Nations education.
In a media release later on Thursday, Bellegarde backed Trudeau’s stance on closing the gap. Bellegarde stated in the release that “all the parties need to step up and make clear commitments to First Nations.”
He acknowledged Trudeau’s promises on education as “a substantive plan for action.”
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair was not out campaigning on Thursday, but will be making an economic announcement Friday in Toronto.
The AFN will release a full analysis of all party platforms when it comes to First Nations people later in the campaign process.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was in Regina today warning that his opponents would eliminate improvements in tax-free savings accounts and other tax breaks his government has introduced.
(With files from the Canadian Press)