FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL WITH MORE BROKEN PROMISES

OTTAWA – As students begin their school year across Canada, Indigenous students are once again returning to find broken promises from the Liberal Government. During last year's election, the Prime Minister made very clear commitments to fund First Nations education, yet students have still been shortchanged by a billion dollars.

"It is unacceptable that the Liberal government is spending billions on tax cuts and incentives to businesses while walking away from the firm commitments they made to First Nations students,” says Charlie Angus (Timmins – James Bay) NDP Indigenous and Northern Affaire Critic. "The Liberal message that there just isn't money for Indigenous kids – well that's the oldest story in confederation.”

When you crunch the difference between their election commitment and what they are delivering, the funding gap is huge: K-12 education is receiving 800 million dollars less over the next four years than what the Liberals originally promised; there is no money for post-secondary education despite promising 50 million per year for a total of 200 million dollars; and they have failed to lift the two per cent cap on post-secondary education.

"Fixing things for Indigenous youth is one of the best investments our country can make. If they truly want to repair the relationship with Indigenous Peoples, the Liberals must end the broken promises,” added Angus.‎