Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy expressed “disappointment and frustration” in the Ontario government's budget speech in late March.
In accusing Queen's Park of ignoring the “legitimate aspirations” of First Nations, Beardy was dismayed the budget left out any plan for the region's infrastructure needs and First Nation involvement in the mining sector through training and education.
“This budget treat NAN First Nations as insignificant to Ontario, when in fact, NAN territory covers two-thirds of Ontario's land mass and contains some of the most numerous and richest mineral deposits in the world,” said Beardy in a statement. “It is time to pay attention to us.”
Nary a word about Northern Ontario was uttered in Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan's speech, but the budget notes said the government is “on track” for job creation and to enhance the economy with its newly-released Growth Plan for Northern Ontario. The government said it has increased annual funding for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund by $10 million to $100 million, has launched skills training program for Northerners, come up with energy programs to cut power costs and is introducing a new forest tenure and wood pricing system.
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