Can the Liberals keep their promise to First Nations youth? – Macleans

Economist Rob Gillezeau on a $1.7-billion gap in the Liberal funding plan for First Nations education

March 19, 2016

Rob Gillezeau is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Victoria with expertise in economic history, labour economics, and public policy. He previously served as the Chief Economist in the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition.

Last Thursday, while the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was being feted with the pomp and luxury of a state dinner in Washington D.C., his government quietly leaked the fact that the Liberal platform had underfunded its promise to First Nations youth by as much as $1.7 billion. It was such a masterful stroke of political damage control by communications staffers that its release was spun into a headline entitled “Trudeau Looking to Improve State of First Nations Education,” and only the journalists at APTN have taken the time to seriously dig into the fiscal sleight of hand.

Read More: http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/can-the-liberals-keep-their-promise-to-first-nations-youth/