Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is deeply concerned and in opposition to planned cuts to the budget of Indigenous Services Canada.
In an interview with the Peak from Ottawa, Singh said the auditor general came out with a report on March 19, and it was “very scathing,” outlining how the Liberals promised to address the really serious problem of a lack of adequate housing of Indigenous community reserves.
“This means there is overcrowding, there are poor conditions,” said Singh. “There are seniors living in homes with mould and we’ve seen homes where people are eight or 11 crammed into a home with only two bedrooms. It’s very difficult. These conditions are not acceptable.
“The Liberals’ promise to address one of the major problems, which is the gap in the amount of funding that Indigenous people receive by 2030. The auditor general says they [the Liberals] are on track to break that promise. That’s the impact of not investing appropriately for Indigenous communities. The impact includes really painful stories, really bad conditions in housing, and the lack of services.”
Singh said the NDP is pushing back and wants to see real investments to deal with the problem.
“We want to see Indigenous communities get the respect they need, so we want to see adequate levels of services, adequate investments to build homes, and to provide the infrastructure for health care needs,” said Singh. “What we are saying to Canadians is the Liberals continue to break their promises and the Conservatives plan to cut even deeper, and they’ve made it very clear they are going to take away even more from Indigenous communities that already have so little.
“We are saying that New Democrats are committed. We have been fighting for Indigenous people.”
Singh was recently in the qathet region and spent time in Tla’amin Nation. He said his party is concerned that even progressive nations such as Tla’amin might be affected by funding cuts.
“We’re concerned that all nations will be impacted,” said Singh. “We’re worried that what the Liberals are proposing will make life harder. Where things are a challenge, it will make it worse and we’re also concerned that the Conservatives, who are presenting themselves as change, will cut even deeper. We’re worried this will hurt.
“We want to show Indigenous communities that we care and we’re fighting for people to get what they deserve. That’s proper funding, that’s adequate investments to deal with the needs, and that’s what we’re pushing for.”
Singh said the NDP is putting a lot of pressure, pushing and forcing the government to do the right thing.
“They only act when they are inundated with pressure and that’s what we have been doing,” said Singh. “We will keep ramping up the pressure so that Indigenous communities get the appropriate funding and have access to the services they need. That’s our focus.
“We have shown in the past that when we exert pressure, we are able to get good results, so we will keep putting the pressure on.”
When asked if he would be willing to put cessation of the NDP’s supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals as a bargaining chip, Singh said the NDP has been able to hold the Liberals to account using the agreement.
“What it does is it gives us a tool,” said Singh. “It’s a document that lays out all the promises made, so we don’t want to let them off the hook. We want to make sure they keep delivering what we’ve forced them to do and we are going to push them for more.”
Singh said it is a priority to visit and spend time with First Nations representatives, and he has been touring and meeting Indigenous leaders wherever he goes, including here.
In a media release, Singh called on the Liberals to reverse billions of dollars in cuts to the vital services Indigenous communities rely on in the next federal budget.
The release stated that multiple reports indicate the Liberals may cut billions of dollars to essential programs that ensure Indigenous children have the same access to health care that any other child in the country has. It also stated the cuts may impact programs dealing with the harmful and destructive legacy of the residential school system and funding for mental health and wellness programs.
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