April 7, 2010
By The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs is calling on the federal government to restore funding for a program that provides support services for residential school survivors.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, who heads the group, says the Conservative government made a cold, calculated fiscal decision in cutting off funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
Phillip says Prime Minister Stephen Harper's 2008 apology about the injustices suffered in residential schools is meaningless if it's not backed up by money to provide support services.
The foundation provided culturally appropriate community-based services for more than 130 programs across the country until its funding ran out on March 31.
Charlene Belleau with the Assembly of First Nations says Ottawa's response that the money will instead be handed out through Health Canada isn't good enough.
Belleau says less money will now be available and Health Canada operates out of urban centres that can't reach rural communities where some of the programs are held.