Trudeau unveils plan for First Nations education and opportunity

August 13, 2015

SASKATOON, SK – A Liberal government will establish a renewed partnership with First Nations that ensures high-quality education and economic opportunity, both of which are vital to our long-term economic growth, said the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today.

“Canada only succeeds when we all succeed. Indigenous Peoples are the fastest growing segment of our population, and it is critical to our shared future that they have the same education and economic opportunities as everyone else. This must be a real priority for the federal government,” said Mr. Trudeau. “A Liberal government will immediately engage in a renewed, respectful, and inclusive nation-to-nation process to make important new investments in First Nations education and close the existing funding gap.”

The renewed partnership will include:

  • An initial, immediate new investment of $515 million per year in core annual funding for First Nations K-12 education, rising to over $750 million per year by the end of our first mandate;
  • An immediate new investment of $500 million over the next three years for First Nations education infrastructure; and
  • $50 million in additional annual support to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), which provides financial assistance to Indigenous students who attend post-secondary education.

In addition, we will deliver substantial new funding to promote, preserve, and enhance Indigenous languages and culture; and work collaboratively to include Aboriginal and Treaty rights, residential schools, and the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to Canada in classroom learning.

“We believe in First Nations control of First Nations education, with the federal government working nation-to-nation as a partner,” said Mr. Trudeau. “Closing the persistent and unacceptable gap in education and economic outcomes for First Nations requires real action, and only the Liberal Party is offering a plan that will deliver growth that works for everyone.”

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