A Saskatchewan MP says he thinks cuts are coming to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
Liberal Ralph Goodale says despite some conciliatory tones that came out of the recent summit between First Nations leaders and the Prime Minister, the overall sentiment is that cuts are coming everywhere in the spring budget.
Goodale says that is the last thing First Nations education needs, which is suffering from a lack of support.
He says between $3,000 and $5,000 per child is needed to keep First Nations schools up with the provincial average.
Meanwhile, Goodale believes a private member’s bill by northern Saskatchewan MP Rob Clarke to scrap the Indian Act was the work of Stephen Harper from the outset.
Goodale says the government is playing a cat-and-mouse game with the Indian Act, instead of sitting down and consulting First Nations leaders.
He says it is also strange that he and other politicians have not been able to read the bill.