Saskatchewan’s northern MP says there is both good and bad in the 2019 federal Liberal budget in terms of Indigenous spending.
NDP MP Georgina Jolibois says the fact the Trudeau government has targeted $334 million over five years for the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous languages is a step in the right direction.
However, she says this amount is not nearly enough.
“I participated in the heritage committee when witnesses came forward and spoke to the bill and made suggestions,” she says. “And one of the suggestions made by witnesses is the funding should be around $1 billion when we’re looking at Indigenous languages across Canada.”
Jolibois says she is also pleased to see the Liberals have put $10 million over five years for a national Indigenous statutory holiday on truth and reconciliation to be held on Sept. 30.
Her private member’s bill on the issue recently passed third reading in the House of Commons and is now in the Senate.
She adds the Trudeau government’s decision to put $717 million over five years to ensure all Canadians have access to high-speed internet is another positive development as the service is lacking in many northern Saskatchewan communities.
The Liberal budget pledges roughly $4.7 billion in new spending over five years on Indigenous priorities.
It was unveiled on Tuesday.
(PHOTO: Georgina Jolibois. File photo.)