MP Says Budget Could Divide Native Community

MP Says Budget Could Divide Native Community

Wednesday, May 03, 2006 at 14:58

The Conservative government’s financial plan is being criticized by the MP for Desnethe-Missinippi Churchill River.

Gary Merasty says the budget does not address several outstanding issues in the First Nations and Metis community that were outlined in the Kelowna Accord.

He also questions how the government will deliver $300 million to the provinces for off-reserve Aboriginal programming.

He feels the move could be aimed at creating divisions between the on-reserve and off-reserve populations.

Merasty also says these moves were created unilaterally and lack the consensus of the Aboriginal community.

Merasty accuses the Tories of “cherry picking” certain aspects of the Kelowna Accord, while ignoring its targets and objectives.

Merasty believes the end result might be a lot more trips to the courts.