$12M in funding still being withheld from First Nations – CBC

Dec 08, 2015

Despite its opposition to controversial law, Liberal government has not moved on frozen funding

Forty-three First Nations are waiting on the Liberal government to release more than $12 million in funding which was held back by the previous government under a controversial law that requires bands to post financial statements online.

The Liberals “were very clear prior to the election,” they would repeal and not enforce the First Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA) says lawyer Robert Hladun, who represents Saskatchewan’s Onion Lake Cree Nation.

He claims the First Nation has had $1.6 million held back over the last two years — money used to support over 800 employee salaries and access to housing.