EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST NATIONS
First Nations children are falling further and further
behind as a result of chronic underfunding of the First
Nations education system. In fact, First Nations receive
less funding per student than students in the provincial
systems. As a result, First Nations students are behind in
reading, writing, and numeracy, and less than half of
students on reserves graduate from high school.
relationship
between the federal
government and First
Nations. The Conservatives
have acted unilaterally on education. Rather than acting on a
nation-to-nation basis and respecting
regional diversity, they have failed to deliver
promised new investments. They have slashed
federal resources for First Nations, and over $1
billion in government funding – intended for Indigenous Peoples – has been allowed to
lapse since 2009.
There is both a moral and economic imperative to investing in First Nations education. All children have a right to
high-quality education, and our values as Canadians
demand that we take real
action, in full partnership with
CANADA ONLY SUCCEEDS
First Nations, to close this
WHEN WE ALL SUCCEED
persistent and unacceptable
TOGETHER, AND IT IS VITAL TO
gap.
THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY
THAT WE IMPROVE ECONOMIC
OUTCOMES FOR FIRST
NATIONS.
Indigenous Peoples make up the
fastest-growing segment of the
Canadian population, and we
know
that
strengthening
economic outcomes and opportunities for First Nations is critical to our shared economic future. Canada only succeeds when we all succeed
together, and it is vital to the future of our economy that
we improve economic outcomes for First Nations.
Unfortunately, where we should have seen progress, the
Harper decade has seriously damaged the essential
First Nations communities, educators, and students should not have
to wait one more day for the critical
resources they need and deserve. It
is time for real change.
A Liberal government will ensure
education and economic opportunity for First Nations, based on recognition and respect for
Aboriginal and Treaty rights. We will immediately engage
in a renewed, respectful, and inclusive nation-to-nation
process to close the gap in First Nations education. This
includes eliminating the existing funding gap, and ensuring every First Nations child receives a high-quality
education.
EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST NATIONS
The elements of the partnership
include:
An initial, immediate new investment of $515 million per
year in core annual funding for kindergarten through
grade 12 education for First Nations. This will rise to over
$750 million per year by the end of our first mandate. It
includes not only the funding promised and never
delivered by Stephen Harper, but an additional $300
million annually. A total new investment of $2.6 billion
for core First Nations education over the next four
years, these investments will begin immediately and help
to close the chronic funding gap. They are one part of our
broader commitment to a new fiscal relationship with
First Nations – one that provides them with sufficient,
predictable, and sustained funding to support their
communities’ priorities.
We will also invest $500 million over the next three
years for immediate First Nations education infrastructure. This funding is incremental to existing education
infrastructure commitments already made to First
Nations.
Unlike Stephen Harper, we will never act unilaterally
on First Nations education. We believe in First Nations
control of First Nations education, with the federal
government working nation-to-nation as a partner to
ensure the goals set by First Nations are achieved. We
will also support First Nation-led initiatives with respect
to jurisdiction over education.
will also work closely with Indigenous leaders and
communities, provinces, and territories to engage Indigenous high school students so that they are aware of the
available post-secondary financial support and tools.
We will work with residential school survivors, First
Nations, the Métis Nation, Inuit communities, provinces,
territories, and educators to find ways for educational
curricula across the country to incorporate Aboriginal
and Treaty rights, residential schools, and the contributions of Indigenous Peoples to Canada.
We will provide substantial new funding to support the
ability of Indigenous communities to promote, preserve,
and enhance their languages and cultures.
We know there are other gaps that must be closed.
Education is just the start, and does not stand alone. The
best education system in the world means nothing if you
do not have safe drinking water or do not have a safe
place to live. That is why have committed to immediately
re-engage in a renewed, respectful, and inclusive
nation-to-nation Kelowna process to advance progress
on the issues First Nations have prioritized – issues like
housing, infrastructure, health and mental health care,
community safety and policing, and child welfare. We
will make sure the Kelowna Accord – and the spirit of
reconciliation that drove it – is embraced, and that its
objectives are met, in line with today’s challenges. We
will make up for ten long, lost years.
We will invest $50 million in additional annual support
to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program
(PSSSP), providing additional financial assistance to Indigenous students attending post-secondary education. We
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