Despite an inflow of recent infrastructure funding, Six Nations is worried there's a plan to reduce the amount of federal money flowing in to First Nations communities over the next few years.
In a news release sent out by the office of Chief Coun. Bill Montour, the band says that only $300 million, from an Indian Affairs budget of $1.2 billion, is allocated to operations and maintenance of buildings and other assets.
"Three hundred million does not go far," said Montour in the news release. It leaves just $125 million for new capital infrastructure projects, spread among 134 First Nation communities across the province.
Worse, said Montour, the funding will be reduced over the next five years and by 2015, all First Nations will be forced to share a budget reduced from $1.2 billion to $750 million.
"If we are having a hard time getting (a) major capital project funded now, it's going to be five times harder in 2014-2015."
But MP Phil McColeman said that's not true.
"The document Chief Montour is referring to is a planning document that's quite fluid. In 2014, $750 million is projected as a base level but there will be additional funds based on projects submitted and that will bring it back up to the average level of $1 billion a year."
McColeman said that First Nations -like most communities - generally feel there's never enough money for all the projects people want to undertake.
Yet, he said, Six Nations got a substantial amount of federal money last year with the funding of a new water treatment plant, at $26 million, and a new government-funded police station for $3 million-plus.
"Those are specific projects that were identified as being needed and we were able to get approved."
McColeman noted that the Six Nations water treatment plant is the single most expensive such plant ever built for natives.
"I think, on balance, Six Nations has done really well."
He promised to continue to advocate for the needs on both Six Nations and New Credit and to maintain the constructive relationships that have been established.
Meanwhile, Montour is calling on bands across the country to work together on an ad hoc committee that would look at better ways of using the national capital budget for native communities.
"We can't sit back and let the status quo roll, because it's going to jeopardize our communities even worse. And there's no way I can see that we're going to be able to build healthy, safe, sustainable communities."
Working together, Montour suggests that First Nations can have more of an impact on decision-makers in Ottawa, working with Indian Affairs regional offices to look at various options.
Montour proposed that $500 million of the INAC $1.2 billion budget for First Nations be securitized and bonds be sold into the world market.
Although he's been advised that's not possible because it's taxpayers' money, Montour said there's a way around the process.
"I've always maintained that money appropriated by Parliament for the use and benefit of Indians is Indian money, because our communities do contribute to the tax base of Canada."