Harper Government Pressures Poorest Community To Sign Agreement Despite Court Injunction

[formercia]






March 15, 2013
Burnt Church First Nation, New Brunswick, Canada
It was just another day at the band office on Tuesday when Burnt Church First Nation councillor Mr. Curtis Bartibogue first noticed the files on his desk.
“It’s that time of the year when Aboriginal Affairs Funding Agreements come in, I looked at them briefly and set them aside for thursday’s meeting,” he said during a telephone interview.

Councillor Curtis Bartibogue, Burnt Church First Nation.
It was that same day that he noticed a similar agreement being discussed online which caused him some concern, so he went back to take a closer look at the agreement. Aboriginal Funding agreements are issued across Canada prior to each fiscal year, a process that has the usual outlines on funding dollars. Particulars involving Burnt Church First Nation include; Education (Elementary, Secondary, Post Secondary), Economic Development, Indian Government Support, Land and Trust Services, Community Infrastructure, Housing, Social Support Services, Social Assistance, and Headstart & Day Camp.
“Certain terminology contained in the prior funding agreements years before were no longer there,” he said as he compared last year’s agreement to this years. ”For example, Section 16 would normally have a non-derogation clause, but that was omitted. These normally state that signing this agreement does not derogate from any aboriginal or treaty right, this was replaced and I thought that was strange,” he stated. “What I also found was that it said by signing onto this funding agreement our band would agree to the federal guidelines on social programs, which meant we would have to abide by the provincial social rates,” Bartibogue said.
Last year Ottawa planned to impose changes to welfare programs on First Nation communities that would harmonize rates throughout Atlantic Canada with Provincial rates. But fell short of implementation due to a Federal Court Judge’s decision that effectively placed an injunction until heard in court. A decision many First Nation leaders of the Maritimes were pleased with. Despite the existing injunction Chief and Council of Burnt Church were concerned how this current agreement would affect the case currently before the courts. Calls were made to the Regional Office requesting a meeting with the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to discuss the matter.

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It gets better... read-on.

http://wabanakipress.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/harper-government-pressures-poorest-community-to-sign-agreement-despite-court-injunction/

[eppur_se_muova]

1. I wish Harper would quit dragging Canada downhill -- I need someplace to escape to. nt