The leader of the provincial opposition says he’s deeply concerned about a leaked memo that he says suggests the Prime Minister’s Office is discouraging investment in Aboriginal education.
On Monday in the Saskatchewan Legislature, NDP Leader Cam Broten read from a document he says was authored by former Harper chief of staff Nigel Wright and several other senior staffers.
According to Broten, the document says the PMO is against any government messaging or direction to senate committees that urges the federal government to quote – “invest heavily in Aboriginal education.”
Broten said this is a huge concern for the province and he called on Premier Brad Wall to pass a motion condemning Ottawa’s inaction on increasing funding for Aboriginal education.
He went on to say the PMO appears to deem any talk about investing in First Nations education as threatening.
However, the Premier refused to put forward the motion saying he prefers to engage federal parties on the issue rather than rush to emotional responses.
He also says in recent meetings with Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt there were indications some pilot programs in Aboriginal education could be on the horizon and possibly in Saskatchewan.
No one from the Prime Minister’s Office was immediately available for comment.