Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Third world

by Aaron Wherry on Monday, November 21, 2011 12:38pm - 12 Comments

NDP MP Charlie Angus recorded video of a visit to Attawapiskat.

Mr. Angus has written about what he saw for the Huffington Post.

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  • OriginalEmily1

    Oh, well see this is perfectly permissable in Canada.

    It’s those protesters in parks we have to worry about.

    And we can certainly lecture the Chinese about living conditions.

    *Rolls eyes*

  • Hester Eastman

    Maple Leaf Web ~ Native Social Issues:

    While Canada routinely ranks in the top ten of the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) – a quality of life indicator based on income, education and life expectancy applying the same criteria to Canada’s aboriginal population reveals some striking figures. Registered Indians living on reserves are ranked approximately 68th, somewhere between Bosnia and Venezuela, while off-reserve Indians are ranked 36th.”

    Library Of Economics and Liberty:

    “Gary Becker …. presented evidence that discrimination is more pervasive in more-regulated, and therefore less-competitive, industries.”

    Ronald Reagan ~ The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help’

  • Anonymous

    So where did the money go?
     
    “Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada says it provided the area, which includes Attawapiskat, more than $3 million in funds for housing in 2011-12 and it is up to the tribal council to allocate the money.

    But Bisson, Angus’ provincial counterpart, estimates the community alone needs at least $130 million to build homes, roads and a school.

    Mushkegowuk Grand Chief Stan Louttit also noted Friday that while people in Attawapiskat are without basic necessities, the Ontario government continues to make money from a nearby De Beers diamond mine.

    He says negotiations should be reopened to review why the government receives 13 per cent of profits from the mine, while the reserve only receives about one per cent.

    “We want to be at the table and talk about the wealth generated to us as a result of your activity on our land so we are not in the state of poverty like we are in today,” said Louttit.”
     
     
    40 years is not old for a home – what happened to them?
     
    “The families have been living in these conditions because they had to move out of deteriorating 40-year-old homes and also to accommodate a rapidly growing population.”

    • OriginalEmily1

      All what money?

      • Anonymous

        “Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada says it provided the area, which includes Attawapiskat, more than $3 million in funds for housing in 2011-12 and it is up to the tribal council to allocate the money.” 
         

        • OriginalEmily1

          And as you yourself pointed out ” the community alone needs at least $130 million to build homes, roads and a school.”

          Attawapiskat is near James Bay, so food and gas cost a fortune, not to mention building materials and there are no roads and only a gravel runway.

          • Anonymous

            The $130 million is Bissso’s number, not NNAC.  No idea where he gets that figure.  Ontario and the Feds are alway passing the buck.
             
            I do know a bit about the area from a good friend from the Mushkegowuk Nation.  Also from following the deBeers mine success story and the controversy over the Mid Canada Line Cold War clean-up.
             
             

          • OriginalEmily1

            He said that’s what would be needed….and we can see that on the video.

            Natives are a federal responsibility.

        • Anonymous

          So they got 3 million, but estimate a need for 130 million. Considering how little 3 million is in comparison.. I imagine it went into repairing some most needed buildings first.

          • Anonymous

            Attawapiskat has some history of being given monies for a specific purpose only to have it go elsewhere.  There are seven communities in the area considered one nation. 
             

    • Anonymous

      From what I understand INAC only allocates about $30K for building a home on reserve.  You don’t get much in the way of quality building for that money & upkeep can be hideously expensive.  We have to figure out a way to provide quality buildings with reasonable maintenance costs for people living on reserve, especially those in the north.  The living conditions on many First Nations people is a national disgrace.  We have to do better.

  • Gtrplyr

    It’s a national disgrace.

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