Things arent hard if you know the right expediter and have deep pockets.I was amazed this year up north how easy it was to get anything through discovery mining services in Yellowknife.You name it and they will have it on a plane the next day.
NDP leader slams PM's Attawapiskat response
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Things arent hard if you know the right expediter and have deep pockets.I was amazed this year up north how easy it was to get anything through discovery mining services in Yellowknife.You name it and they will have it on a plane the next day.
When it comes right down to it I'm not sure what the "Government's" obligations are either. Perhaps it's fellow citizens that should organize and do something. A good start would be every citizen of means contributing at least $1 to a fund.
It should be through taxes as the treaties respect the relationship between Government and First Nations. Donations would imply that support should be voluntary instead of mandatory.
The Federal Government states that it “supports the national objective of giving First Nations, Inuit and Northerners access to a range and level of services from their governments reasonably comparable to those enjoyed by other Canadians in like circumstances”. 16
The standard of government services provided either to First Nations or the general public is a public policy choice made by each successive government based on that government’s assessment of its own mandate. Unfortunately, the standard on many reserves across Canada is substantially lower than that found anywhere else in the country, contradicting the principle of comparability. 17
http://www.csfs.org/Files/Public/Index/Archive/Federal-Government-Funding-to-First-Nations.pdf
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If a smart man took 30 seconds to think about he could pretty well imagine where $90 million split between 2000 people and the various transportation costs went in a period of 6 years. NOt rocket science. :lol:
Oh, I had that figured out, Gerry. I was thinking he might even be a member of the John Birch Society. :lol:
As per the Indian Act, they're entitled to an audit from the CPC, not a third party. It's clear that the Cons are desperately trying to shirk their responsibilities on this matter.
They haven't even visited the site to know what's going on.
**** just got serious..
Attawapiskat leaders want UN to intervene
OTTAWA—Leaders in Attawapiskat have asked the United Nations to intervene in their crisis, saying the move would force Prime Minister Stephen Harper to explain why he is not living up to his international obligations to respect aboriginal people.
“We have a right to go abroad to international people to say, ‘Look, this is what’s happening in Canada,’ ” Grand Chief Stan Louttit said after chiefs from across the country passed a resolution to ask the UN for a special rapporteur.
The housing crisis in Attawapiskat — where families live in uninsulated shacks as winter sets in — has turned into a political crisis that pits First Nations chiefs against the federal government.
Some of the chiefs took to the streets of Ottawa on Tuesday during a break in their annual meetings. They’re furious the federal government responded to Attawapiskat’s declaration of emergency by ordering yet another audit, and removing the band’s power over its finances.
“There seems to be an impasse here,” Louttit said.
But the band’s chief, Theresa Spence, says she is trying to find a way out of the escalating conflict.
Her band members ordered a government-appointed third-party manager to leave the reserve Monday, mainly because he had given no notice and did not have a plan to present, Spence said.
But she said she is working on her own plan to present to the government, and wants to discuss with her band council how they could work with the third-party manager in future.
“We’re hoping things will work out,” she said.
The decision to impose third-party management has nothing to do with resolving the short-term housing crisis on her reserve, she said, and will only make matters worse. She says she is bracing for funding cuts and delays, as the government appointee cracks down and takes control.
“It’s not right, that picture,” said Louttit. He acknowledged the band had audit problems in the past, but has made improvements.
Neither he nor Spence are opposed to the government asking for another audit.
But the measures by the federal government will do nothing to alleviate unhealthy living conditions that currently plague the community, they said.
In a unanimous resolution, First Nations chiefs asked the UN to appoint a special rapporteur to determine whether Ottawa is meeting its obligations under Canadian law and international treaties.
“We must go together and tell the government: this is our land, this is our life,” Attawapiskat chief
Theresa Spence told dozens of fellow leaders at the Assembly of First Nations’ annual meeting.
“We need to say ‘enough is enough.’ Respect our treaty and follow our treaty, as we did.”
The resolution was a last-minute addition to the agenda at the meeting, where anger and disbelief run thick over the government’s handling of the housing crisis in Attawapiskat.
It also demands that the federal and provincial governments respond quickly to communities lacking basic needs.
And it instructs the Aboriginal Affairs minister to stop imposing measures and instead work with chiefs and their councils.
A spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan says the government is committed to working with the chief and council to find ways to give the people warm and dry places to sleep.
But chief after chief accused the minister of being disingenuous, saying his decision to respond to Attawapiskat’s cry for help by removing the band’s power over its finances shows a lack of respect and understanding.
“That’s not going to work,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
He said placing a third-party financial manager in charge of Attawapiskat is a throwback to the colonial era. It comes as First Nations leaders and Harper have agreed to talk about defining a new relationship that would eventually lead to self-government.
“This is the Indian agent being imposed on us,” Beardy said in an interview.
Duncan says Ottawa still holds decision-making power over the band’s money even though the third-party manager was kicked out.
“His message is, ‘if you make noise, we’re going to send in a third-party manager to take control’,” Spence said. “They impose the Indian Act and take control of our lives.”
Key First Nations chiefs are planning a summit with Harper at the end of January, in part to discuss how to move beyond that act, which both sides consider antiquated.
Although some chiefs say Harper has shown no goodwill in recent days, National Chief Shawn Atleo said the public attention and the outpouring of donations focused on the problems in Attawapiskat give First Nations a big boost.
“It’s our time,” he told the chiefs. “By this, we mean that the pain and the suffering ends right here, right now, in this generation.
“Together we can close the chapter of a very dark period of our history and turn the page to write a new chapter filled with hope and promise for our children and their children to come.”
Aides passed an open blanket around to collect funds for Attawapiskat, and raised almost $6,000 in an hour.
Spence said she was grateful for the donations and for the help of the Red Cross, but it’s a pittance compared with what her community needs for housing, schooling and health care.
“Winter is here,” she said. “And we’ve been living like this for more than three years. We have to stop it.”
In Attawapiskat, five families are living in uninsulated wood-frame tents with no plumbing and dozens of families are crammed together in temporary shelters. Tuesday daytime temperatures were reported at -14C, with a forecast of -12C overnight.
The reserve is only one of dozens experiencing severe housing shortages — prompting many chiefs to call for better funding arrangements and a full discussion with Ottawa on how to fix the persistent problem.
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1098004
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NDP says Attawapiskat should get army help
The interim federal NDP Leader is calling for the military to be sent in to help with the housing crisis in Attawapiskat.
Nycole Turmel says in a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that members of the northern Ontario Cree community have asked her to seek the army's help.
Turmel calls the lack of warm and hygienic housing in Attawapiskat dire, given the imminent arrival of winter. "I have met with the residents of Attawapiskat, and they are asking that appropriate federal resources be dedicated to alleviating this crisis," Turmel wrote.
"There is no time to waste."
She says moving supplies into the community will require an extraordinary level of co-ordination.
She points out the military has been used elsewhere in times of crisis because of its specialized transport equipment and logistical expertise.
The remote James Bay First Nations community declared a state of emergency over substandard housing conditions, with some of its 1,800 residents living in unheated tents and portable trailers.
The federal government has since put Attawapiskat under third-party management to oversee spending, but the Northern Ontario community's band leaders have condemned Ottawa's handling of the crisis.
NDP says Attawapiskat should get army help - Ottawa - CBC News
The interim federal NDP Leader is calling for the military to be sent in to help with the housing crisis in Attawapiskat.
Nycole Turmel says in a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that members of the northern Ontario Cree community have asked her to seek the army's help.
Turmel calls the lack of warm and hygienic housing in Attawapiskat dire, given the imminent arrival of winter. "I have met with the residents of Attawapiskat, and they are asking that appropriate federal resources be dedicated to alleviating this crisis," Turmel wrote.
"There is no time to waste."
She says moving supplies into the community will require an extraordinary level of co-ordination.
She points out the military has been used elsewhere in times of crisis because of its specialized transport equipment and logistical expertise.
The remote James Bay First Nations community declared a state of emergency over substandard housing conditions, with some of its 1,800 residents living in unheated tents and portable trailers.
The federal government has since put Attawapiskat under third-party management to oversee spending, but the Northern Ontario community's band leaders have condemned Ottawa's handling of the crisis.
NDP says Attawapiskat should get army help - Ottawa - CBC News
Clearly they do need to be audited, but then we went over this in the other thread. If the CPC were to audit them you'd be crying foul anyway. Man your spin on this MF is unbelievable. Even Liberals are saying that an audit it necessary. The Indian Act is a guide not a scripture or part of the dead sea scrolls.
That is what I have always thought. I think that MF is referring to some wording in the Indian Act that states the gorvnment can audit and monitor funding.
I'm sure Govt Canada has a firm contracted or tenders for such audits as they would any other contractor. Audits aren't rare and Attawapiskat being audited isn't out of the norm.
It appears we don't know for sure how many people live on this reservation. A month ago we talked about 1400. That changed to 1800,and yesterday I saw a figure of 2100. In old Lil Abner comics there were these characters who multiplied unreasonably fast. Now I don't believe the natives multiply by binary fission but I hope somebody has a good handle on the numbers.
I have a neighbor who worked up there and he tells me that once it was rumoured that the government was putting money into this place,the population rose dramatically.....sort of like a gold rush. There is no doubt an audit is needed.
That was my understanding, but I'm not opposed to an audit as much as I think it should be secondary to taking some action.
It's basically sending a message of blame rather than restoration.
Maybe I got a little heated in that other thread. :lol:
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Rez populations are never consistant.
Health issues and housing first. Audit second.
Why do the eastern politicians allow this to happen??
Understanding Attawapiskat : Prime time : SunNews Video Gallery
Understanding Attawapiskat : Prime time : SunNews Video Gallery