Liberal Statement on First Nations Education Funding

February 7, 2014

TORONTO – Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic, Carolyn Bennett, issued the following statement today on the federal government’s announcement regarding First Nations education:

“Today’s announcement is an encouraging step towards ensuring that every First Nations child receives a high-quality education in a First Nations-led school system.

“What was promised today by the government is the direct consequence of years of painstaking work by First Nations leadership, teachers, and Indigenous youth across the country. Their collective commitment to ensuring that every First Nations child gets the best start in life helped bring about this significant shift in the government’s attitudes towards First Nations education.

“Eight years ago, a Liberal government negotiated the Kelowna Accord, which included unprecedented new funding for First Nations-led education. That agreement was tossed aside by the Conservatives when they formed government. As a result, we are an additional eight years behind in providing fairness, justice, and equity in First Nations education.

“The Liberal Party of Canada is dedicated to ensuring that the commitments made today are translated into action and transformative change, in a manner that respects and supports the right of First Nations to control their education systems, embraces meaningful engagement on a nation-to-nation basis, and eliminates the education funding gap that exists for First Nations.”