NLIS 1
February 16, 2005
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)
 

Minister calls on federal government to investigate  expenditure of public monies at Natuashish reserve

Tom Rideout, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, today announced that he has called upon the federal ministers of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Health Canada to undertake an investigation of the expenditure of public monies at the Mushuau Innu First Nation (MIFN) reserve at Natuashish.

Minister Rideout said, "I have written letters to both Andy Scott and Ujjal Dosanjh, in their capacities as the federal ministers of Indian and Northern Affairs and Health, respectively, suggesting that their departments cooperate in undertaking a full investigation into the spending of the First Nation monies associated with the Labrador Innu Comprehensive Healing Strategy.

"I told the federal ministers that these concerns are not new and must be taken seriously. We all need to have comfort that monies targeted to help the Innu are being spent properly and in an efficient manner, to help secure a healthy future for the Innu people. Band members, and indeed all Canadian people, deserve to know the answers to the questions that have been raised publicly by members of the Mushuau Band."

The Innu, as well as community service practitioners in the region, have expressed concerns about the operation and effectiveness of the Labrador Health Secretariat. Minister Rideout said, "I suggested to the federal Minister of Health, in particular, that no matter how the federal government chooses to move forward in response to recent allegations around spending, that he consider a review of operations of the Labrador Health Secretariat to ensure the Innu receive maximum benefit from the resources available from Health Canada."

On October 7, 2004, Minister Rideout wrote Minister Scott urging him to look at how the federal government can act within its jurisdiction to address the problems that alcohol and drugs are causing in the reserve at Natuashish, in the absence of a band by-law. The letter also noted that it is important that the province continue to work with the federal government and band to ensure that the appropriate supports are in place and that the best use is being made of the resources that are being directed, by all parties, to assisting the reserve.

"The public and band members need to be assured that money allocated is being spent wisely and effectively on priorities that provide the best opportunities for achieving positive results for the Innu people," said the minister. "This is vastly more important than just demonstrating that the money was spent."

Minister Rideout said, "The level of suffering being experienced by the members of the Mushuau Innu First Nation at the federal government reserve at Natuashish is absolutely tragic. While it is important for the First Nation itself to address these issues at the community level, it is also the federal government�s responsibility to ensure accountability for the expenditure of federal funding and for the effectiveness of the services provided to the Innu, as it should for any federal government reserve in the country.

"Our government is willing to work with and support both the Mushuau Innu First Nation and the federal government in resolving the problems identified. However, the constitutional jurisdiction over the reserve resides with the federal government."

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015 or (709) 690-8403

2005 02 16                   9:15 a.m.


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