Harper should close education gap by investing in First Nations youth

NEW GLASGOW – The Harper government must address shortcomings in First Nations education funding in the next budget, says the Green Party. The Department of Indian Affairs’ spending for First Nations on-reserve schools has been capped at two percent since 1996, when the national funding formula, developed in 1988, ceased to be indexed for inflation.

“Forty percent of First Nations people live on reserves with growing youth populations and these young people are being disadvantaged by paltry education budgets,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “It is worrying that the government has taken no action to increase the budget for services and assure the quality of education received.”

Education funding analyses conducted by the Assembly of First Nations indicate that for each student living on-reserve, band schools receive an average of $2,000 less than provincial schools. In 2004, the Auditor General identified an education gap of 28 years for First Nations people living on reserves compared to the Canadian population as a whole, meaning that it will take Aboriginal students 28 years to reach non-Aboriginal graduation rates. The Auditor General has warned this chasm will continue to grow. Close to 70 percent of First Nations students do not graduate from high school.

“Naturally, an increasing population will result in a greater demand for services. It isn’t rocket science. If we don’t spend the money on education we are shortchanging not only the youth but Canada as well,” said Aboriginal Affairs critic Lorraine Rekmans.

“First Nations youth have potential to contribute significantly more to Canada, but we must first invest in their success. It’s past time for this government to address Aboriginal youth in the federal budget.”