Attawapiskat third-party manager “sitting on” funds for new houses: NDP MP Angus
OTTAWA–The outside consultant hired by the federal Aboriginal Affairs department to manage Attawapiskat’s finances “is sitting on” funds the community needs to prepare site work for new modular homes awaiting transport to the community, according to NDP MP Charlie Angus.
APTN National News
OTTAWA–The outside consultant hired by the federal Aboriginal Affairs department to manage Attawapiskat’s finances “is sitting on” funds the community needs to prepare site work for new modular homes awaiting transport to the community, according to NDP MP Charlie Angus.
Angus said officials from diamond company De Beers, which operates a diamond mine near the community, are ready to prepare the site for the 22 modular homes the department purchased in response to the housing crisis in the community. The homes, built in New Brunswick, are current awaiting shipment in Moosonee, Ont.
Angus said in question period Wednesday that the third-party manager has not only “cut off” funds preventing site work for the homes, but also for Attawapiskat’s education system.
“Canadians expect a just resolution to the Attawapiskat crisis, but the minister prefers to punish the community,” said Angus, MP for Timmins-James Bay. “It has been two months since he has cut off all the funding to the education system and to students. He has cut off the funding that is needed to actually prepare the site so the modular homes can be brought in.”
Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan said the funds haven’t been released because the band leadership has refused to give the third-party manager requested information.
“We have a manager in place and he wants to work with the First Nations leadership in the community,” said Duncan. “He has asked for and not received the information he needs in order to pay the bills that this member from Timmins is asking for.”
Angus accused Duncan of treating the community “like a hostage population” while paying a consultant, who is based in Winnipeg “$50,000” while the technical team from De Beers “does not have a dime” to lay the ground work for the new homes.
Duncan called Angus’ claims a “fabrication,” but added he could not comment on the third-party manger because the issue is before the courts.
Attawapiskat has gone to Federal Court seeking to overturn the department’s decision to impose the third-party manager. A hearing was held in Toronto Tuesday and a decision is expected soon.
The federal government imposed the third-party manager last November as the scandal over the dire and life-threatening housing conditions on the reserve gripped the Canadian public.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Duncan both blamed the band leadership for creating the housing crisis by mishandling money.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence has said her administration was working to rectify the band’s finances and, as proof of their commitment to transparency, posted all their financial data online.
In a speech opening the Crown-First Nations Gathering last Tuesday, Harper said a “new day” had dawned on the relationship between First Nations and Canada.
I think the media should publish who this third party is, as if they are an accounting firm, then those of us, who use accountants, would know to not use this specific firm. If its a small individual, well at least we would know…however, this does not solve the problem though, as well, im sure directive is coming from the government, not the individual accountant(s)
The Mishkeegogamang First Nation in northwestern Ontario needs more than 300 homes
see now this is a complaint….. with trade roots….. you can solve these things… start with tobacco coffee….. and try and get a return goods… adding to trade surplus….. leverage shipping….. like reserve hope cost…. to ship and find the best root…. truck train boat air…. seld dogs….lol
remember a trade post can be in any city to….. off reserves tapping into trade…. they just need pick up and deliver to the reserves….. spider web roots….. create a computer model get everyone to send int the data to what its cost to move x amount of goods in four directions… so when you off load you do it in 4 directions 4 bins simple……
here is your motto…. first your learn then you get good at it then you get fast at it…… many arrows is butter then one when comes to trade goods we need to live with every day….. your with what have not what you want……
Matawa First Nations leaders are proposing a $34 million strategy to halt prescription drug abuse — a strategy that would fund addiction and mental health…. keep their hands busy import raw goods to build with…… then move those goods….co-op trade post……
your only going to get the same outcome using the old prison colony camp rules…..
who cares if it takes 3 month to get across Canada its a network of trade roots that can be built with trucks and small boats…… loads full move it….
look at all the reserves…… now connect them…. all reserves are stone throw from each other connect them…. like a post office….. where things can move…… you don’t need to move one thing across Canada you need to move it the reserve next to you piggy back trade loop… then plug everyone into it to service each other…. like coffee and move it in 4 direction every day…..and with everyone moving things in 4 directions you get what a distribution system…
co-op store where everyone can sell and buy….. and deliberate…….
its a trade dept……. like a home list all that goes into a home see if you can make them your self…… understand 630 reserves to network off…. get everyone to list what they can do….. complaints open an office…… take in the complaint then send it out to everyone to bid,,,,,, see if you beat the world…. leverage it…. fish for cooper wire….
lets not for get the best part the monopoly over the reserves…… food resource money and jobs….. look at your food system…. all done to bleed everyone….. like try and bring a product to market you cant…. it all import bleeding the system….. you need a trade post where everyone can take part in….. where goods can be exchange…. fish wood… start with one item… use off reserve people to help their in the city…. find cheep ways to move goods…trade roots… list all the things you buy…..find ways for people to trade…… by making and trading… use all the reserves as trade post….. find ways to root goods…. from reserves to reserves… then advance to export…. like 630 people from 630 reserves picking mushrooms is a mushroom company…. networking…..
it was a sewer problem and a chief needing help to resolve the problem.. they need an engineer….. to deal with clean up before winter hit…..