Indigenous Services should be spared from spending cuts, say New Democrat MPs
CBC
Indigenous Services Canada should be spared from proposed federal spending cuts aimed at saving a government-wide $15.4 billion over the next five years, say two New Democrat MPs.
"Not only should Indigenous Services not be cut, but we need to see further investments," said Niki Ashton, who represents Churchill-Keewatinook Aski in northern Manitoba.
"Any proposed cuts would have a devastating impact."
In an interview Tuesday, Ashton said her party, which has an agreement with the Liberals to support them in confidence votes, is responding after Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu confirmed her department, like others, is mulling options to reduce spending.
Hajdu told reporters last month in Charlottetown that Indigenous Services is "going through the exercise" but looking at things like "duplication" in the bureaucracy, not direct service delivery. She doubled down on the point this week.
"I will not be proposing anything that cuts services or programs to Indigenous people," she said in an interview.
"That I've been very clear about."
Ashton said the minister should specify where the money will come from, posing the question directly in question period Tuesday afternoon.
Hajdu instead trumpeted the Liberals' record — saying First Nations community services have increased by 156 per cent since 2015 — and accused the Conservatives of entrenching poverty and slashing budgets under prime minister Stephen Harper.
Asked for clarity by CBC News, Hajdu couldn't say how much money her department is expected to save, or from where she would cut, and only reiterated she won't propose anything touching Indigenous programs and services.
"The treasury board president has indicated her expectations around that as well," said Hajdu, referencing Anita Anand, who directed ministers to deliver savings plans by Oct. 2.
"We will be looking at efficiencies."
Nunavut MP Lori Idlout said she was "very concerned" by the issue.
"They shouldn't be making any cuts to Indigenous Services," said Idlout, the NDP's Indigenous Services critic.
