NDP’s Lori Idlout reacts to funding for Inuit children in Budget 2024, but slams Liberals for failing to close the Indigenous infrastructure gap « Canada’s NDP
OTTAWA— On Friday, NDP Indigenous Services critic Lori Idlout (Nunavut) reacted to Budget 2024. For months, the NDP has fought to secure a reversal of Liberal cuts to key programs at Indigenous Services in this budget, but Idlout says this is only a first step.
“The NDP worked hard every day against Liberal cuts and sunsets to the Inuit Child First Initiative and mental health and wellness programs for Indigenous peoples,” said Idlout. “I am pleased that we were able to reverse the cuts to the Inuit Child First Initiative.
“We secured important investments in establishing a Red Dress Alert, support for the Manitoba Government to search the Prairie Green Landfill, and funding for Grassy Narrows to finally build a mercury care centre.”
Idlout continues to sound the alarm over the massive Indigenous infrastructure gap caused by chronic underfunding by consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments.
“With the infrastructure gap for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis standing at over $425 billion, we needed urgent action in this budget,” said Idlout. “Instead, the Liberals are investing only 1 per cent of what is needed, giving Indigenous peoples pennies. This lack of investment continues to marginalize Indigenous peoples and keeping them in mouldy homes, crumbling schools, and without running water.
“There is so much more the federal government needs to do to uphold its obligations to Indigenous peoples. Justin Trudeau had nine budgets to make Indigenous lives better, but First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people are still suffering. The Conservatives will make things even worse. When they were in power, they made cuts in services that had catastrophic impacts on Indigenous peoples. When Nunavut had a Conservative MP, they cut the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, when more healing is still needed.”
“The NDP will keep fighting to ensure Indigenous peoples get the government investments they need to thrive.”