Culmiating Task-3.pdf

One of the largest barriers to aboriginal economic development is the “outdated spendingformula” used by the federal government to pay for aboriginal programming, he said, with 96 to98 per cent of that money going to social spending and only a small fraction available foreconomic development.“The government will fund every First Nation for a full-time welfare worker. They will fundevery First Nation for a full-time drug and alcohol counsellor. But they won’t fund First Nationsfor a full-time economic development officer,” Mr. Louie said.The federal government, he said, considers economic development for aboriginal communities tobe discretionary. “But I don’t know which town, city or province would call their economydiscretionary. White people don’t call their economy discretionary.… We want economicdevelopment funding to be non-discretionary. That means it’s a focus, it’s a priority.”During the years covered by the report, which included a major recession, the nationalemployment rate fell from 62.7 per cent to 61.2 per cent, but for First Nations on reserve it fellfrom 39 per cent to 35.4 per cent.The gap in income levels between residents of reserves and the rest of Canada actually narrowedslightly between 2006 and 2011 – but remains wider than it was in 2000. A higher percentage ofboth groups completed high school, but the gap remained about the same, with only 44.1 per centof on-reserve students graduating. And the gap in dwellings needing major repairs actuallynarrowed slightly but remained six times higher for First Nations on reserves.The board makes a number of broad recommendations for improvement, calling for a strongereffort to improve educational outcomes and for the creation of a federal agenda that sets closingthe gaps as a priority. It says the government should support aboriginal businesses with capitaland expertise and provide seed money for investment in economic opportunities in aboriginalcommunities.“Are there going to be some communities where economic development is tough or reallychallenging?” Mr. Louie asked. “Well of course there will be. But then why can’t we focus ongetting 50 per cent of First Nations people on that economic horse? That will go a long way andthe First Nations stats will get marginally better in a decade.”Brief Description:Topic 4- Article 2 – Canadian First Nations becoming less prosperous, reportssay.The main issue of this article deals with the increasing economic gap between aboriginal peopleand the remainder of Canada. The initial goal was to bridge and close the gap between these twogroups, however studies have shown that this gap is increasing making these First Nations morevulnerable and economically deprived compared to the rest of Canada. From all aboriginals, the20