P The Harper government has hit the Assembly of First Nations with an about $1.7 million cut in a surprise move that is also expected to impact 46 other First Nation organizations. The cut, which applies to this current fiscal year, was announced in a June 3 letter from Aboriginal Affairs deputy minister Michael Wernick to the AFN. A similar form letter was also sent to other First Nations organizations. “It is going to seriously impact our capacity,” said a senior official with the AFN. “I am not sure how we are going to handle this.” The funding cut targets money set aside by the department for so-called “discretionary project funds” made available for awarding on a “competitive basis,” according to Wernick’s letter, obtained by APTN National News. The department is slashing the pot of money by 30 per cent for all organizations. The cuts will impact policy and analysis work around housing, infrastructure, water, treaties, emergency management, Indian residential schools, education and economic development. It will also impact salaries and travel expenses for the AFN’s executive committee along with the organization’s two annual meetings. According to Wernick’s letter, the department will now narrow the criteria for projects that get funding.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:45:22 +0000
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