Good morning. Firstly, I wish to thank the members of the Standing Committee on Finance for their invitation.
I wish to begin by stating that the first nations live in a situation of permanent economic recession, deprived of their territories and resources. The first nations are sensitive to what the Canadian population is currently experiencing. However, we warn the government: the poor state of public finances must not serve as a pretext for maintaining or aggravating the unacceptable socio-economic situation of the first nations.
If we were given the opportunity, we could address the committee members for several days. However, we will go directly to page 2, and talk about housing.
Investments in housing and safe drinking water for aboriginal communities are a far cry from meeting our needs. In the recently adopted federal budget, $400 million, over a two year period, have been earmarked for first nations on-reserve housing. An additional $165 million was allocated for the completion of infrastructure projects related to safe drinking water and wastewater. Out of the announced $400 million, our communities will benefit at the very best, from $20 million per year for two years. The needs would require 10 times this amount, and this, over a five-year period, in order to meet the social housing needs of the first nations of Quebec and Labrador.
Also, no measure has been provided for thousands of Aboriginals living off-reserve in alarming situations.
I will now hand the floor over to Chief Whiteduck.